Current information on HVDC connections
The Fenno-Skan 1 submarine cable encountered a fault in the late winter of 2013. During repair deviations from the norm were observed in the cable insulation. Fingrid, Svenska Kraftnät and cable supplier have in cooperation carried out assessment of the cable's technical condition.The investigation of the technical condition of Fenno-Skan 1 cable has shown that most likely the cable does not withstand normal 400 kV voltage and the cable shall be operated permanently with reduced 80 % voltage. It reduces the capacity from 500 MW to 400 MW. This permanent capacity reduction has been taken into operation from 1st of July 2014. In addition it is not possible to give the temperature dependent overload capacity of 50 MW over the Fenno-Skan 1 to the market during winter periods.
The total transmission capacity of Fenno-Skan 1 and 2 is after this reduction 1200 MW.
The annual maintenance and warranty works of end of last year commissioned EstLink 2 connection will reduce the capacity between Finland and Estonia from 1000 MW to 350 MW between 30th June and 1st August 2014. During the overhaul period among others the cable will be jetted in the sea bottom at Estonian coast.
For a longer period there has been export limitation on Estlink connections from Finland to Estonia. Commissioning of Kiisa reserve power plants second unit will remove this limitation 2nd of July 2014, when above mentioned Estlink 2 maintenance period is over.
From 1st of August 2014 the import and export capacity between Finland and Estonia are 1000 MW.