Elering wants to protect substations from drones. They plan to encase transformers in concrete. This will protect transformers from small drones, but larger drones could still cause damage.
Substations are very important. If a substation is destroyed, electricity cannot reach people. For example, the Viru substation is located near the Auvere power plant. If a drone hits the Viru substation, it would create a major problem.
Martin Herem, the former head of the defense forces, said that Russia has attacked substations in Ukraine. He stated that substations are vulnerable. Herem suggested moving substations underground, but this would be very expensive.
Hannes Kont, the head of Elering, said that building an underground substation would cost about 100 million euros. Encasing transformers in concrete is much cheaper, costing around five million euros.
Elering plans to protect some substations over the next four years. They will encase transformers in concrete. The transformer is the heart of the substation, converting the voltage of electricity. If the transformer is destroyed, the substation will not function.
Elering will spend 220 million euros to protect the power grid. This funding must be used by 2029. The money will go toward combating hybrid threats and creating reserves.
Eesti Energia does not disclose how they will protect the new gas plant. They do not want to publicly discuss security measures. The new gas plant will be built in Auvere in two years.