Legislation

Connection of producers

Compliance with the requirements of the network code on requirements for grid connection of generators (Requirements for Generators, hereinafter RfG), established by European Commission Regulation No. 2016/631, became mandatory in Estonia on 27 April 2019. In connection with the need for prior identification of existing generating units, Article 4(2)(b) of the RfG was applied as an exception immediately following the entry into force of the Regulation on 17 May 2016.

The new version of the Government of the Republic Regulation „Grid Code“ and the Government of the Republic Regulation „Grid code on the Functioning of the Electricity System“entered into force in 27 April 2019, establishing, among other things, requirements for new generating units. The requirements of the RfG and the Grid Code on the Functioning of the Electricity System apply to generating units that are not existing generating units for the purposes of Article 4(2) of the RfG. According to Article 4(2) of the RfG, a generating unit is considered to be existing if the generating unit was already connected to the network on the date of entry into force of the RfG, i.e. 17 May 2016, or if a binding contract for the purchase of the main generating unit had been entered no later than 17 May 2018 and the network operator was notified of the entry into this contract no later than 17 November 2018.

In addition, the requirements arising from the RfG and the Grid Code on the Functioning of the Electricity System apply to type C or D generating modules connected to the network before 17 May 2016, which are rebuilt to the extent that the technical characteristics of the generating module described in the connection contract originally entered into for the connection of this generating module to the network change or other circumstances specified in Article 4(1)(a) of the RfG occur. The owner of an existing generating unit may also, on its own initiative, submit an application to Elering for the implementation of the requirements of the RfG.

The requirements of Government of the Republic Regulation No. 184 “Grid Code” which entered into force on 1 July 2003 remain applicable to existing generating units.

The RfG contains both directly applicable provisions and provisions to be enacted separately at the national level. The provisions regulated at the national level were established in Estonia by the transmission system operator Elering after a public consultation and approval by the Competition Authority on 8 November 2018 by decision no. 7-26/2018-005. For the sake of a comprehensive overview, Elering has prepared a helpful document for market participants where all the requirements established at the national level have been added to the full text of the RfG in Estonian, which are highlighted in the document on a blue background. The purpose of this document is to better systematise the information provided to market participants so that all requirements can be easily found in one document.

Connection of consumers

The requirements arising from the Grid Code on the Functioning of the Electricity System and the European Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1388 establishing a network code on demand connection (Demand Connection Code, hereinafter DCC) apply to the connection of consumers.  The DCC entered into force on 7 September 2016, but compliance with its requirements became mandatory in Estonia on 18 August 2019.

The DCC contains both directly applicable provisions and provisions to be enacted separately at the national level. The provisions regulated at the national level were established in Estonia by the transmission system operator Elering after a public consultation and approval by the Competition Authority on 22 February 2019 by decision no. 7-26/2019-005. For the sake of a comprehensive overview, Elering has prepared a helpful document for market participants where all the requirements established at the national level have been added to the full text of the DCC in Estonian, which are highlighted in the document on a blue background. The purpose of this document is to better systematise the information provided to market participants so that all applicable requirements can be easily found in one document.

Connection of direct current transmission systems and power park modules with direct current connection to the network

When connecting direct current transmission systems and power park modules with direct current connection to the network, the Grid Code on the Functioning of the Electricity System and European Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1447 establishing a network code on requirements for grid connection of high voltage direct current systems and direct current-connected power park modules (hereinafter referred to as HVDC) must be applied. The HVDC entered into force on 28 September 2016, but compliance with its requirements became mandatory in Estonia on 8 September 2019.

The HVDC contains both directly applicable provisions and provisions to be enacted separately at the national level. The provisions regulated at the national level were established in Estonia by the transmission system operator Elering after a public consultation and approval by the Competition Authority on 27 March 2019 by decision no. 7-26/2019-007. For the sake of a comprehensive overview, Elering has prepared a helpful document for market participants where all the requirements established at the national level have been added to the full text of the HVDC in Estonian, which are highlighted in the document on a blue background. The purpose of this document is to better systematise the information provided to market participants so that all applicable requirements can be easily found in one document

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Last modified 08.08.2025