European Commission's public consultation on projects proposed for the Projects of Common Interest list has begun

The consultation will run for 12 weeks and close on 19 June. More information on the consultation is available on the Commission's website.

 

Fingrid, together with the Swedish transmission system operator Svenska Kraftnät, has applied for PCI status for the third alternating current connection between Sweden and Finland. PCI status can be granted to projects that are essential for the EU's internal energy market and reaching the EU's energy policy objectives. The main objective of the EU's energy policy is affordable, secure and sustainably produced energy. Benefits received by projects selected as PCI projects include an accelerated permit process and eligibility to apply for financial assistance from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) financial instrument.

 

In Fingrid's opinion, the new alternating current connection between Sweden and Finland will make the market more efficient by significantly reducing bottleneck situations, improve system security, especially in Finland, by increasing the adequacy of power and reducing the risk of Finland being left in an island, and increase the possibilities of integrating renewable energy. The Finnish and Swedish transmission system operators decided to take the implementation of the third alternating current connection forward in autumn 2016. More detailed technical planning of the project continues, and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure for the first transmission line section will begin in autumn 2017. PCI status would make it possible to seek an accelerated permit process and CEF financing for the project. The common goal is to take the transmission line connection into use by the end of 2025.

 

Further information:
Jussi Jyrinsalo, Senior Vice President, grid services and planning, tel. +358 30 395 5118
Antti Harjula, Specialist, power system planning, tel. +358 30 395 5184