Estonian energy system operator Elering is launching a public procurement for electricity producers and storage operators capable of providing controllable capacity, to acquire a service to ensure island operation capability. The goal is to guarantee the independent functioning of Estonia’s electricity system in exceptional circumstances. The key requirement of the procurement is that the service provider must be able to supply generation capacity continuously for ten days, should an emergency situation arise.
According to Elering’s Chairman of the Board, Kalle Kilk, this is primarily a measure related to energy security. “The system operator’s task is to guarantee the security of energy supply in the country. We must be prepared for all unexpected situations, and ensuring the availability of controllable local power plants for emergencies – for instance, when cross-border connections cannot be used – directly supports this objective,” Kilk explained.
For 2026, Elering has estimated the minimum need for controllable capacity at 1,036 MW. The exact volume will be reassessed before each annual procurement period and may change depending on shifts in peak consumption forecasts. The service contract can be extended for one year without launching a new procurement.
Due to developments in the energy sector and Estonia’s withdrawal from the Russian grid in February 2025, the availability of controllable generation capacity has become increasingly important. According to Elering’s CEO, securing the necessary amount of controllable capacity requires considerable effort, and Estonia, together with the other Baltic states, has developed several different solutions. “The service for ensuring island operation capability makes it possible to secure the required capacities for potential crisis situations as well,” Kilk noted.
To cover the cost of financing the service, a new line item called the security of supply fee will be added to consumers’ network service bills from the beginning of 2026. According to forecasts, the impact of this fee on the average household consumer will be more than two euros per month, including VAT.
In a separate announcement, Elering recently said it had updated its web-based map application e-Gridmap, displaying the locations of Estonia’s substations and transmission lines, as well as the available capacity.
e-Gridmap is primarily intended for those seeking to connect to the electricity transmission grid.
The main feature of the new version is the automatic calculation of connection offers based on Elering’s current price list. This enables customers to gain a more accurate overview of possible costs in advance, thereby supporting project planning and budgeting.
