The historic commencement of electricity transportation via the new Estlink cable joining Finland to the Baltic region will take place on January 4, 2007, following the resolution of operational issues.
After long-lasting negotiations, developer ABB has handed over the Estlink submarine cable to the Baltic and Finnish power companies designated to run the system.
Negotiations were needed to iron out issues regarding the use of temporary measures to get the system up and running, as Indrek Aarna, chairman of the management board of Nordic Energy Link explains:
The basis of the negotiations was the fact that the Estlink contract did not set out a condition when the cable is activated using a temporary solution.
In order to solve the problem and bring the equipment in accordance with the contract, ABB has ordered an additional solution, which will be installed at the Espoo and Harku converter stations in spring 2007. Issues surrounding this action have now been resolved allowing for the handover.
The Estlink cable, which for the first time will connect the power systems of the Baltic States and Finland, was inaugurated on December 4, 2006. The primary purpose of the Estlink submarine cable is to supply the Nordic electricity market with electricity produced in the Baltic States. An estimated 2TWh of electricity will be transported annually via the cable.