The European Commission has nominated the third AC interconnector between Finland and Sweden a Project of Common Interest

The European Commission has published the third list of Projects of Common Interest (PCI), which are essential for the EU's internal energy market and reaching the EU's energy policy objectives. Third AC interconnector between Finland and Sweden is included on the list.More information on the project list is available on the Commission's website.
 
The European Commission has nominated the third AC interconnector between Finland and Sweden a PCI status. Fingrid, supported by the Swedish transmission system operator Svenska Kraftnät, has applied for the status for the third alternating current connection between Sweden and Finland. The 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.
 
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 has begun in autumn 2017. The common goal is to take the interconnection into use by the end of 2025.
 
Further information:
Jussi Jyrinsalo, Senior Vice president, Grid Services and Planning, tel. +358 30 395 5118
Keijo Välimaa, Construction manager, Transmission Line projects, tel. +358 30 395 5281