Third Estonian-Latvian connection
The third Estonian-Latvian 330 kV power connection from Harku to Riga is a strategic infrastructure project for the future of the entire Baltic region.
Harku-Lihula-Sindi line
Harku-Lihula-Sindi line
The 330/110 kV Harku-Lihula-Sindi high-voltage overhead line to be constructed is one of the largest domestic infrastructure projects. The new line will be built predominantly as a double-circuit line, with 330 kV and 110 kV circuits and a fiber optic lightning protection cable installed on shared towers. Two line circuits with different voltages will be located on shared towers to reduce the area of the protection zone for the power line and thereby the restrictions imposed on landowners. The new Harku-Lihula-Sindi overhead line is approximately 170 kilometres long and passes through three counties.
- Contracting authorities: Harju County Government, Lääne County Government, Pärnu County Government
- Financier: Elering AS
- Thematic plan prepared by: Ramboll Eesti AS / Ramboll Finland OY (Skepast&Puhkim OÜ)
- Entity carrying out strategic environmental assessment: Maves AS
- Technical design of the power line prepared by: Ramboll Eesti AS / Rambøll Danmark A/S (Skepast&Puhkim OÜ)
Thematic plan
The county governors of Harju, Lääne and Pärnu established the thematic plan for the Harku-Lihula-Sindi high-voltage line in the autumn of 2016. The planning process lasted over five years in total, during which numerous discussions took place with local residents and interested parties. It is possible to see the explanatory memorandums and drawings of the established spatial plan by county.
Harju County
Explanatory memorandum to the spatial plan (in estonian)
Planning solution in Saue rural municipality (in estonian)
Planning solution in Kernu rural municipality (in estonian)
Planning solution in Nissi rural municipality (in estonian)
Planning solution in Harku rural municipality (in estonian)
Lääne County
Explanatory memorandum to the spatial plan (in estonian)
Planning solution in Lääne-Nigula rural municipality (in estonian)
Planning solution in Kullamaa rural municipality (in estonian)
Planning solution in Martna rural municipality (in estonian)
Planning solution in Lihula rural municipality (in estonian)
Pärnu County
Explanatory memorandum to the spatial plan (in estonian)
Planning solution in Sauga rural municipality (in estonian)
Planning solution in Koonga rural municipality (in estonian)
Planning solution in Audru rural municipality (in estonian)
Strategic environmental assessment
The aim of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is to contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the spatial plan to be prepared. As a result of conducting the SEA, the expected impact of implementing the thematic plan on the natural environment and the social, cultural and economic environment is determined. The impact assessment results in the presentation of options for avoiding or reducing significant adverse environmental impacts and recommendations for selecting the most preferred route option.
Attachments:
Report on strategic environmental assessment (7 January 2020) (in estonian)
Kilingi-Nõmme-Riga line
Kilingi-Nõmme-Riga line
The 330 kV Kilingi-Nõmme-Riga high-voltage overhead line to be built starts from the Kilingi-Nõmme substation and runs on the Estonian side to the Latvian border. From there to the Riga TEC II power plant, the line will be built by the Latvian transmission system operator. The length of the section of the line on the Estonian side is approximately 14 kilometres and passes through the rural municipalities of Saarde and Abja.
Contracting authorities: Pärnu County Government, Viljandi County Government
Financier: Elering AS
Thematic plan prepared by: Ramboll Eesti AS (Skepast&Puhkim OÜ)
Entity carrying out strategic environmental assessment: Ramboll Eesti AS (Skepast&Puhkim OÜ)
Thematic plan
The county governors of Pärnu and Viljandi established the thematic plan for the Kilingi-Nõmme-Riga high-voltage line in 2015. It is possible to see the explanatory memorandums and drawings of the established spatial plan by county.
Pärnu County
Explanatory memorandum to the spatial plan (in estonian)
Planning solution in Saarde rural municipality (in estonian)
Viljandi County
Explanatory memorandum to the spatial plan (in estonian)
Planning solution in Abja rural municipality (in estonian)
Strategic environmental assessment
The aim of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is to contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the spatial plan to be prepared. As a result of conducting the SEA, the expected impact of implementing the thematic plan on the natural environment and the social, cultural and economic environment is determined. The impact assessment results in the presentation of options for avoiding or reducing significant adverse environmental impacts and recommendations for selecting the most preferred route option.
Attachments:
Report on strategic environmental assessment (7 January 2020) (in estonian)
Press releases
The third Estonian-Latvian connection ensures greater security of supply and the efficient functioning of the electricity market within the Baltic States, as well as between the Baltic States and the Nordic countries and other European Union countries.
The construction of the power line also has important security policy implications for Estonia and the other Baltic States – the existence of the transmission line is a technical prerequisite that will allow Estonia, together with the other Baltic States, to switch to synchronous operation with European electricity networks and also desynchronise the Baltic States from the Russian electricity system.
The new 330 kV overhead line eliminates the “bottleneck” on the Estonian-Latvian border, increasing transmission capacity by up to 600 MW. In addition, the overhead line creates opportunities for connecting new electricity producers to the electricity transmission system in Western Estonia.
In 2015, the European Commission decided to support the construction of the new power connection between Estonia and Latvia with 112 million euros. The support covers 65 per cent of the planned total cost of the project, which is 172 million euros. Elering finances the self-financing part from the transmission capacity auction revenue. Therefore, the construction of the line will not affect the tariff of the transmission service. The connection consists of the Harku-Lihula-Sindi and Kilingi-Nõmme-Riga lines and is scheduled to be completed in 2020.
You can read press releases here
Videosd
Construction of the third Estonian-Latvian power connection. Construction period 2018–2020:
Installation of bird markers on the 330/110 kV HLS overhead line in April 2020
Elering is installing 10,000 line or bird markers on the Harku-Lihula-Sindi overhead line to protect birds, located on the main migration routes and habitats of birds. This is the first such extensive installation of markers in Estonia. Most often, markers are located in the area of rivers and streams. In total, there are markers on almost 20 line sections spanning nearly 40 kilometres. The Harku-Lihula-Sindi line with bird markers is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2020 and will be part of the third Estonian-Latvian power connection.
Watch the video:
Construction of the 330/110 kV Harku-Lihula-Sindi overhead line in May 2019