Virtsu - Võiküla Undersea Cable
OperationalIsland LinkEE110 kV8 km2015
Basic information
7 fieldsAlso Known As
Virtsu–Võiküla 110 kV submarine cable · Virtsu–Võiküla 110 kV undersea cable · Virtsu–Võiküla 110 kV merikaabel · Virtsu–Võiküla 110 kV veealune kaabel · Estonia mainland – Muhu 110 kV Virtsu–Võiküla interconnector · Virtsu–Võiküla undersea cable · Estonia’s First 110 kV Undersea Electricity Cable Between Mainland and Muhu Island
Status
operational
Owners
Project Company
Type
island link
Expected Life
40 years
Website
Supply Chain (1)
Project Timeline (8)
30 Sept 2015Cable Installation Complete
On 30 September 2015, Elering completed installation of Estonia’s first 110 kV electricity submarine cable between the mainland and Muhu Island across the Suur Strait, corresponding to the Virtsu–Võiküla link. The XLPE‑insulated 400 mm² copper‑core cable was laid and buried in a single length between the shore points to replace an older 35 kV oil‑impregnated paper cable, significantly increasing transmission capacity and improving the security and environmental performance of electricity supply to Saaremaa and Hiiumaa as part of Elering’s western islands supply‑security investment programme.
30 Sept 2015Construction Other
On 30 September 2015, Elering launched and completed installation of Estonia’s first 110 kV electricity submarine cable between Virtsu on the mainland and Võiküla on Muhu Island across the Suur Strait, delivering the Virtsu–Võiküla undersea cable project that had been procured from Empower AS to replace one of the existing 35 kV oil‑impregnated paper‑insulated cables and improve the security of electricity supply to Saaremaa and Hiiumaa; the new polyethylene‑insulated cable is buried in the seabed to reduce damage risk from anchors, ice and other external factors.
30 Sept 2015Commercial Operations Full Power
On 30 September 2015, Elering put into service Estonia’s first 110 kV electricity submarine cable between the mainland and Muhu Island, the Virtsu–Võiküla undersea link across the Suur Strait. The project, initiated as a €9.4 million investment to enhance the security of supply to Western Estonia and the islands by replacing older 35 kV oil‑impregnated cables with a higher‑capacity, polyethylene‑insulated 110 kV cable, was planned for completion in 2015 and is recorded in Elering’s history as having been launched on that date.
20 Aug 2015Cable Installation Start
Press reports on 21 August 2015 state that Empower AS began installing the new 110 kV Virtsu–Võiküla submarine cable in Suur Strait and that the cable launch (vettelaskmine) started on Thursday, i.e. 20 August 2015.
9 Jul 2015Onshore Construction Start
Elering reported on 9 July 2015 that Empower AS had started preparatory works in Suur Strait for the new Virtsu–Võiküla 110 kV electricity submarine cable, marking the start of field construction for the cable project, including the onshore sections.
Feb 2014Cable Supplier Selected
Elering AS awarded the contract for the Virtsu–Võiküla 110 kV undersea cable project to Empower AS following a public tender launched in May 2013, and signed the agreement with Empower in February 2014. The contract, valued at 9.4 million euros, covers the installation of the new submarine cable and associated works between the Virtsu and Võiküla substations.
Feb 2014Fid Financial Close
Elering committed to invest in the new 110 kV Virtsu–Võiküla undersea cable between the Estonian mainland and Muhu island, signing a construction contract with Empower AS in February 2014 for works valued at 9.4 million euros. This decision secured funding for design in 2014, followed by manufacturing, testing and installation of the XLPE-insulated submarine cable to replace one of the existing 35 kV paper-insulated links and enhance security of electricity supply to Saaremaa and Hiiumaa.
May 2013Procurement Notice
Elering initiated a public procurement process in May 2013 for the installation of a new 110 kV undersea cable between Virtsu on the mainland and Võiküla on Muhu island, aiming to enhance the security of electricity supply to Western Estonia and the islands by replacing one of the existing 35 kV submarine cables.