Elering Explores Opportunities to Enhance Latvian Connection Capacity With New Type of Cable

Elering is installing 11.5 kilometres of innovative high-temperature cables on the Tsirguliina-Valmiera 330 kV high-voltage power line to explore the suitability of higher-capacity cables for Estonian conditions.

“If the new type of cable justifies itself within the framework of the current pilot project, we will consider installing high-temperature cables on other line sections as well, which would consequently allow us to considerably increase the capacity of the existing power lines connecting Estonia and Latvia,” said Elering Chairman of the Board, Taavi Veskimägi.

The new cables will be installed on Elering’s high-voltage power line running from Tsirguliina to the Estonian-Latvian border by Eltel Networks. According to the public procurement, the cost of the work is approximately 2.7 million euros without VAT.

At the moment, the high-voltage power line cables used in Estonia have a steel core, but the core of a cable that will be installed on Tsirguliina-Valmiera line is made of composite material. As far as can be determined, this type of cable has never been used in the Baltics or in Scandinavia. The core of a new cable is produced in USA, with the cable itself made in Belgium.

A cable with a composite material core is lighter than general, and its maximum permissible operating temperature is significantly higher. Because of the composite material, the cable does not expand greatly when the temperature rises. As a result, the cable will not fall dangerously close to the ground when transmitting a higher capacity and thus can transport two times more electricity than a regular cable.

Besides changing the cables, the foundations of the pylons will be repaired, and isolation and some pylons will be replaced on the line section between Tsirguliina and the Estonian-Latvian border. Installation of the new cable started this week and will be finished by the end of January next year.