Estonian power grid operators announce new development plan

The Estonian national transmission system operator Elering and the distribution network operator Elektrilevi have unveiled a joint development plan through 2040. This is the first integrated long-term vision for the country’s electricity infrastructure.

The collaborative strategy aims to modernise the grid by addressing consumption shifts, urban circumstances, suburbanisation and the integration of new energy technologies. The companies expect to generate a social cost saving of at least 54 million euros with coordinating the efforts between the main transmission system and the distribution network.

The plan outlines significant infrastructure upgrades over the next five years. These investments are projected to increase the consumption and production capacity of the networks by 400 megawatts. Key focus areas include high-density regions such as Tallinn, Tartu, and Pärnu, where peak loads are rising most rapidly. The project will also free up approximately 260 kilometres of land currently occupied by overhead power lines.

“I believe that through the cooperation of the two companies, we will find the best solutions for Estonia,” Mihkel Härm, the Chairman of the Board at Elektrilevi. “There are plans to update the development strategy every two years. I highly praise the strong project team who developed this plan.”