Kalle Kilk, CEO of Estonian gas and electricity transmission company Elering, emphasises the importance of cooperation between Finland and Estonia at the turning points of the energy crisis. Under Kilk’s leadership, Estonia has just disconnected from Russia’s electricity grid, and the next step is to acquire more gas-fired power plants for use in times of crisis.

Elering is the Transmission System Operator (TSO) for both gas and electricity in Estonia. Kalle Kilk became the CEO of the company in 2023, and his tenure was extended for another five years in October 2024. During this period, Kilk will also serve as the Chairman of the Board.

In October, Kilk outlined Elering’s key challenges ahead: synchronizing Estonia’s electricity system with the continental European network by early 2025, advancing the large-scale transition to renewable energy by 2030, and enhancing the resilience of Estonia’s energy system in times of crisis.

The first one of these was achieved already in February 2025, as the Baltic countries broke away from the Russian power grid – something that had been in the works for a long time.

– We’ve been working on this for 20 years, smiles Kilk, adding that it was only during the last seven years or so that continental players – such as Germany and Poland – started to see the value of such a move.

– Currently, we’re finalizing the synchronization electricity system with continental Europe, he says.

Natural gas also supports the green transition with its balancing capacity

In recent years, green transition has been topping the agenda of politicians and CEOs alike – but Kilk points out that the shift towards sustainability in the energy sector is more than just solar and wind power.

– Natural gas is part of green transition, too, since it provides the flexible backup we need, he says, adding that various gases, e.g. biomethane, are already renewable.

– Market is driving this change, and, therefore, it’s happening pretty naturally, he believes.

Now, gas is making a comeback , producing electricity via gas-fired power plants to secure sufficient reserve capacity. A gas engine power plant is a power plant that generates electricity and often also heat using gas as fuel.

Kiisa power plant saves the day with gas

So far, Estonia has only one of these gas turbine-operated plants: The 250-megawatt Kiisa plant, located just off Tallinn.

– The plant was finalized in 2014, with dual-fuel engines by Wärtsilä, Kilk explains. The Wärtsilä engines operate primarily on natural gas but can be switched to light fuel oil as a back-up.  Engines meet the need of the power plant to ramp up to full output in a very short time; the plant is able to reach 100% load in less than 10 minutes.

– The old power plants would take days to power up, Kilk compares.

The two units that form the Elering Kiisa power plant are also flexible and able to adapt to the uncertain trends of the fuel markets. Now, Estonia wants more of the same:

– Estonian energy is hungry for gas-fired power plants, Kilk states.

– We have 250 megawatts at Kiisa, but we need about 500 megawatts of additional power on top of that.

Cooperation between Finland, Estonia and Latvia became valuable during the energy crisis

Having worked at Elering for 27 years, Kilk has seen entire eras roll by – but recent years have certainly been packed with extra surprises. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Baltic states and Finland ended abruptly the use of Russian gas, two grid-connected LNG terminals were ‘fast track’ delivered and implemented in Finland. In additionthe gas market began supporting the electricity market in times of need.

None of this would have been possible, if Finland, Estonia and Latvia didn’t have such outstanding cooperation in the gas market.

– With electricity, this type of cross-border collaboration is quite common in Europe. With gas, that is quite unique.

And what is the “secret sauce” in achieving sustained success in the Finno-Baltic gas markets? Kilk replies that there is nothing like a common challenge to really rally the troops.

– There was a sense of urgency, and the political support was there, too, so we started talking the same language.

Kalle Kilk spoke at Gasgrid’s Kaasujen Tulevaisuus -event on 27 May 2025.
Read more: The Future of Gases seminar brought together the building blocks of the stable energy system

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Elering – The Estonian electricity and gas system operator

The Estonian electricity and gas system consists of domestic networks and connections to neighboring countries, enabling the flow of energy between countries and cross-border energy trade. Elering plans and manages the operation of the energy system in real time.

The national transmission system consists of approximately 5,500 kilometers of powerful high-voltage lines and 150 substations. Cross-border lines connect the Estonian electricity system to Finland and Latvia.

Elering has separated the power system from the Russian network and connected it to the continental European power system.

The gas transmission system consists of a nearly 1,000-kilometre gas pipeline, three gas metering stations, and nearly 40 gas distribution stations. The Estonian-Finnish gas connection Balticconnector links the gas networks and markets of the Baltic States and Finland into a single entity.

Text: Sami J. Anteroinen
Photos: Miika Kainu