Virtsu - Võiküla Undersea Cable
Island LinkOperationalEE110 kV8 km2015
Also 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
Project Company:
Elering AS
Type:island link
Expected Life:40 years
Website:elering.ee
The Virtsu–Võiküla 110 kV undersea cable is Estonia’s first 110 kV HVAC submarine electricity link, built to strengthen security of supply for the islands of Muhu, Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. Developed and owned by the Estonian TSO Elering, the project replaced degraded 35 kV submarine cables and was designed to provide...
Supply Chain (1)
Project Timeline (7)
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.
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.
~Jun 2015Cable Installation StartStale
In a March 2014 announcement, Elering scheduled installation of the new 110 kV Virtsu–Võiküla undersea cable between the Estonian mainland and Muhu Island for summer 2015, following cable manufacturing and testing in 2015. This planned installation phase would involve laying and burying the XLPE‑insulated 400 mm² copper‑core submarine cable under the Suur Strait seabed to replace one of the ageing 35 kV oil‑impregnated paper cables and strengthen electricity supply to Saaremaa and Hiiumaa.
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.
€9.4M (equity)
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.
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.