Tartu-Viljandi-Sindi line
The new 330/110 kV Tartu-Viljandi-Sindi overhead line was completed in the autumn of 2014. The main contractors for the construction were Empower AS and Empower Oy. The entire project took four years to complete. Elering invested nearly 34 million euros in the construction of the new line.
Tartu-Viljandi-Sindi increases the security of supply in Central and Western Estonia, reducing dependence on the concentrated electricity network in Ida-Viru County. The Tartu-Viljandi-Sindi line is part of the 330 kV circular connection covering the entire Estonian mainland, the last link of which is the 330/110 kV Harku-Lihula-Sindi line to be completed in 2020.
The Tartu-Viljandi-Sindi line also plays an important role in achieving the strategic goal of synchronising the Baltic States with the European power system.
The 330/110 kV Tartu-Viljandi-Sindi overhead line is 162 kilometres long. The line towers support the 330 kV line and the 110 kV line along the entire length of the line. On the section from Paikuse substation to Sindi substation, a total of three lines have been installed on the same towers – one 330 kV line and two 110 kV lines. It is a unique solution in the network managed by Elering. The second Estonian-Finnish direct current connection, EstLink 2, was completed in 2014. The launch of the new connection increased the electricity transmission capacity between the two countries from the previous 350 MW to 1,000 MW.
Tartu-Viljandi-Sindi line
Environmental impact assessment of the Tartu-Viljandi-Sindi overhead line
In the construction of the Tartu-Viljandi-Sindi overhead line, in addition to the environmental impact assessment carried out during the project preparation stage, the biannual environmental report played an important role. The report analysed and provided an overview of the environmental activities and results of the reporting period and set priorities for the next period.
Attention was paid to marking lines for birds and preparing the ground at the base of the towers as well as areas under nature conservation – the report paid attention to construction work carried out when passing through areas of protected species of protection category II and NATURA areas. In addition, construction work was monitored when crossing rivers, building temporary roads, cleaning up areas around towers, and eliminating traces of construction activities in areas of heritage communities and key biotopes.