Estlink

The 350 MW +/-150 kV Estlink HVDC Light® link was an EU priority project designed to build up the Trans-European power network and be an important step toward the creation of an open and competitive electricity market in the Baltic region.

Estlink, owned by Elering and Fingrid, is the link that crosses the Gulf of Finland and is connected to substations near Tallinn, Estonia and Helsinki, Finland. 
Estlink was previously owned by Nordic Energy Link AS, which was made up of Baltic and Finnish utilities: Eesti Energia Latvenergo, Lietuvos Energija, Helsingin Energia and Pohjolan Voima. 

The whole link is either underground or underwater, and power is transmitted via high-tech extruded (oil-free) HVDC Light^® cables - there are no overhead lines. Estlink is part of the Baltic ring and allows for power exchange between the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) and the Nordel grid.

Estlink provides a variety of benefits for transmission grids in Estonia and Finland, such as emergency power control, damping control, voltage or reactive power support, and frequency control. A special feature of the Estonian power system is a black-start capability, to help restore the Estonian power system in case of blackout. Long term, Estlink could also enable energy imports from Nordic countries.

Hitachi Energy received the contract for the entire HVDC Light^® link: converter stations and DC cables. The whole project was completed in 19 months.

Estlink project upgrade

Hitachi Energy will supply a new advanced MACH™ control and protection system, extending the life of the Estlink link. The latest MACH™ technology from Hitachi Energy provides unequaled calculation capacity and enables a high degree of integration and handling for all control and protection functions.