Estlink 2 interconnector out of service between Finland and Estonia

What happened

The Estlink 2 interconnector between Finland and Estonia suffered a sudden power outage on 25 December 2024. Finland's transmission system operator Fingrid reported a possible failure of the electricity cable. Authorities, with the Estonian operator Elering, are investigating the chain of events, including whether a foreign cargo ship was involved. The link is out of service until the fault is located and repair can start. Fingrid said the failure did not endanger electricity system operation in Finland.

Contributing factors

A possible role for a foreign cargo ship is under investigation. The fault location and cause have not been reported.

Lessons learned

1. A reported fault on a cross-border cable needs prompt joint investigation by the operators and the authorities.
2. A suspected external cause should not be treated as established until the fault is located.
3. System planning should allow supply to continue if one interconnector is lost.

Source

offshore-energy.biz