Estlink

Location of Estlink
Country	Estonia, Finland
General direction	south–north–south
From	Harku converter station, Estonia 59°23′5″N 24°33′37″E / 59.38472°N 24.56028°E / 59.38472; 24.56028 (Estlink - Harku Static Inverter Plant)
Passes through	Gulf of Finland
To	Espoo converter station, Finland 60°12′14″N 24°33′06″E / 60.20389°N 24.55167°E / 60.20389; 24.55167 (Estlink - Espoo Static Inverter Plant)
Partners	Elering Fingrid
Manufacturer of conductor/cable	ABB
Installer of conductor/cable	Global Marine Systems
Cable layer	CS Sovereign
Manufacturer of substations	ABB
Installer of substations	ABB
Construction started	2006
Commissioned	2006
Type	Submarine power cable
Type of current	HVDC
Total length	105 km (65 mi)
Power rating	350 MW
AC Voltage	330 kV (Estonia), 400 kV (Finland)
DC Voltage	±150 kV
No. of poles	2

Location of Estlink 2
Country	Estonia, Finland
General direction	south–north–south
From	Püssi converter station, Estonia 59°22′02″N 27°03′50″E / 59.36722°N 27.06389°E / 59.36722; 27.06389 (Estlink 2 - Püssi Static Inverter Plant)
Passes through	Gulf of Finland
To	Anttila converter station, Finland 60°22′36″N 25°22′01″E / 60.37667°N 25.36694°E / 60.37667; 25.36694 (Estlink 2 - Anttila Static Inverter Plant)
Partners	Elering Fingrid
Manufacturer of conductor/cable	Nexans
Installer of conductor/cable	Nexans
Cable layer	C/S Nexans Skagerrak
Manufacturer of substations	Siemens
Installer of substations	Siemens
Contractors	Empower Oy
Expected	2014
Type	subsea cable, overhead line
Type of current	HVDC
Total length	171 km (106 mi)
Power rating	650 MW
AC Voltage	330 kV (Estonia), 400 kV (Finland)
DC Voltage	450 kV
No. of poles	1

Estlink is a set of HVDC submarine power cables between Estonia and Finland. Estlink 1 is the first interconnection between the Baltic and Nordic electricity markets following by Estlink 2 in 2014. The main purpose of the Estlink connection is to secure power supply in both regions to integrate the Baltic and Nordic energy markets.

First plans for a submarine power cable between the Baltic and the Nordic regions were proposed in 1990s. Negotiations between Eesti Energia, Pohjolan Voima, Helsingin Energia, Graninge (now E.ON Sverige), Latvenergo, Statkraft and TXE Nordic Energy, a subsidiary of TXU (now Energy Future Holdings Corporation) started In 1999, and on 9 October 2001 a contract was signed in Tallinn. However, only after the harsh winter of 2002–2003 which resulted in an increased demand for power, the project of the submarine cable between Estonia and Finland got a boost. The letter of intention for underwater sea cable was signed between Eesti Energia, Pohjolan Voima, Helsingin Energia and Latvenergo on 31 March 2003. In May 2004, the Lithuanian power company Lietuvos Energija agreed to participate in the project, shortly after which the project company AS Nordic Energy Link was established. On 29 April 2005, the Estlink project was launched. Construction of Harku converter station and land cable installation begins on 5 April 2006. The submarine cable was laid in September 2006. The Estlink cable was inaugurated on 4 December 2006 and it became fully operational on 5 January 2007.

The Estlink 1 cable was operated by AS Nordic Energy Link company, founded by Baltic and Finnish power companies. The main shareholder was Eesti Energia with 39.9% of the shares, Latvenergo and Lietuvos Energija had 25% each, and the remaining 10.1% was divided between Pohjolan Voima and Helsingin Energia (operating through their joint project company Finestlink). On 30 December 2013 the interconnector was sold to the transmission system operators Elering and Fingrid.