NordenBladet – The planning of Estlink 3, the third electricity interconnection between Estonia and Finland, is currently underway, with several preparatory steps already completed. Although the project is still in its early stages, significant attention is already being paid to cable security and environmental impact.
The cable will come ashore in Aulepa, Estonia, a region known for intensive trawling activity. This is being taken into account during the cable route planning, and adjustments will be made if necessary to minimize the impact on local fisheries and to ensure operational safety. One of the main goals is to place the new connection far enough from existing infrastructure to reduce the risk of simultaneous failures.
According to the Estonian grid operator Elering, the project also takes into consideration the threat of sabotage, which has recently gained attention due to incidents in the Baltic Sea. The cable is planned to be laid deeper into the seabed, and additional protective measures will be tailored to the specific geological conditions.
Estlink 3 is being developed in cooperation with the Finnish grid operator Fingrid, which is currently focusing on finalizing the business model before making a more substantial technical contribution. The geological conditions in Finland — granite bedrock interspersed with clay layers — present technical challenges but are not expected to affect the overall timeline. However, they do require more extensive geological studies.
If everything proceeds as planned, Estlink 3 is expected to be completed by the mid-2030s.
Featured image is illustrative: NordenBladet