Estonian transmission system operator Elering has applied for a licence for the development of EstLink 3, an electricity interconnection between Estonia and Finland with 700MW of capacity.

Elering has applied to Estonian governmental agency the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority.

EstLink 3 will be the third electricity interconnection between the two countries. It will support climate and energy policy objectives by fostering a more integrated Baltic and Nordic market.

Elering management board chairman Kalle Kilk stated: “We have analysed various potential locations for EstLink 3 and we now consider north-western Estonia to be the most promising area. For security reasons, it will be appropriate to build the new interconnection as far as possible from the existing ones.

“In the long term, this route option will allow connecting the development areas of offshore wind farms that could potentially be built in the area of western Estonian major islands with the resilient power grid.”

The application includes the coordinates for the potential onshore connection point of the submarine cable in Lääne-Nigula municipality, Estonia.

The exact route of EstLink 3 may be subject to change as the licensing process progresses and its final location will depend on the corresponding connection point in Finland.

In Estonia, the project will include a direct current submarine cable, an overland cable, a converter station potentially located near Aulepa and a new 330kV overhead transmission line.

However, the present application is not related to the overland infrastructure of EstLink 3. A separate planning procedure will be used during the planning process for infrastructure to be located on land, along with related activities.

The European Commission has recognised the significance of EstLink 3 by including it in the list of Projects of Common European Interest.

This designation facilitates the potential for EU financial support to realise the new interconnection.

The decision to invest in the construction of EstLink 3 is set for the later 2020s, following the completion of the planning procedure.

If approved, the interconnection is expected to be operational by the mid-2030s, further enhancing the existing network.

In October 2023, Elering and Latvia TSO Augstsprieguma tīkls agreed to build a new interconnector between Estonia and Latvia.

With 1GW of transmission capability, it will operate in a hybrid mode.

The two companies are yet to finalise its exact location and other technical details.