Finland Prime Minister Petteri Orpo at the European Council summit at Batiment Europa two months ago. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
(EPICSTORIAN) – On December 25, 2024, an unexpected disruption occurred in the Estlink 2 undersea power cable, which serves as a critical electricity conduit between Finland and Estonia, Reuters reported.
The outage, detected at 10:26 GMT, reduced the cable’s operational capacity from its full 1,016 megawatts (MW) to 358 MW, as reported by Fingrid, the Finnish grid operator.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo addressed the situation, stating, “Even at Christmas, the authorities are on standby to investigate the matter.” He reassured the public that Finland’s electricity supply remained unaffected by the incident.
Fingrid’s control room manager, Arto Pahki, confirmed the initiation of an investigation into the cause of the outage. At the time of the disruption, electricity was being transmitted from Finland to Estonia at a rate of 658 MW.
Undersea Power Cable Failure Susceptible to Accidental Damage
In recent years, the Baltic Sea region has experienced several disruptions involving power cables, gas pipelines, and telecommunications links, raising concerns about potential sabotage. However, such undersea infrastructure is also susceptible to technical failures and accidental damage.
Estlink 2, operational since 2014, is a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) connection that significantly enhances electricity transmission capacity between Finland and Estonia. Spanning approximately 170 kilometers, the link includes a 145-kilometer submarine cable beneath the Gulf of Finland. The project, costing around €320 million, received a €100 million contribution from the European Commission.
Earlier this year, on January 26, 2024, Estlink 2 experienced a failure originating near the Estonian coast, leading to a prolonged outage. After extensive repairs, including the replacement of a 300-meter cable section, the connection resumed commercial operations on September 4, 2024.
The outage has prompted authorities to dig into the root cause, and possibly may be considering both the technical complexities of maintaining undersea cables and the geopolitical sensitivities in the region.
Analysts suggest ensuring the reliability of such critical infrastructure is paramount for energy security and regional stability.
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As the investigation unfolds, further details will be essential to determine the cause of the disruption and to implement measures that prevent future occurrences. The resilience of energy interconnections like Estlink 2 is vital for the integration and stability of the Nordic and Baltic electricity markets.
The News Summaries
- Estlink 2 Outage Highlights Vulnerabilities in Baltic Energy Infrastructure. A disruption in the Estlink 2 power cable reduced its capacity, raising energy security concerns.
- Baltic Sea Infrastructure Faces Technical and Geopolitical Challenges. Estlink 2’s outage signals risks tied to undersea infrastructure amid technical complexities and regional tensions.
- Maintaining Reliable Energy Links Critical for Nordic-Baltic Stability. Investigations into Estlink 2’s failure stress the importance of resilient energy connections for regional security.
