Helen Electricity Network plans a 400-kilovolt high-voltage grid in Helsinki – legislative reform enables a project that is exceptional in Finland
Helen Electricity Network is launching the planning of a 400-kilovolt high-voltage grid in Helsinki to respond to the city’s growing electricity consumption and the requirements of the clean transition. The project is exceptional, as the construction of 400-kilovolt grids only became possible for distribution system operators following an amendment to the Electricity Market Act that entered into force on 1 January 2026. Helen Electricity Network is among the first distribution system operators in Finland to start planning a grid with such a high voltage level.
Planning will begin with a new high-voltage connection between Vanhakaupunki and Sörnäinen. The connection will meet the rapidly growing electricity transmission needs of the capital city and ensure the conditions for the accelerating electrification of industry, construction, heating and transport. Electricity consumption in Helsinki is expected to double from the 2024 level by 2030.
“Electrification is progressing rapidly, and we want to ensure that Helsinki’s electricity grid can meet future growing customer needs. A 400-kilovolt grid is a key prerequisite for the clean transition, for Helsinki’s vitality and for maintaining Finland’s competitiveness,” says Markus Lehtonen, CEO of Helen Electricity Network.
Helen Electricity Network’s core expertise has traditionally been in the planning, construction and maintenance of low- and medium-voltage grids as well as the 110-kilovolt grid, but the planned 400-kilovolt connection is a new and exceptional project in the context of the Helsinki metropolitan area.
“The 400-kilovolt grid is a significant strategic investment for both us and Helsinki. It requires meticulous planning and close cooperation with the city and other stakeholders,” Lehtonen continues.
Planning begins with the connection between Vanhakaupunki and Sörnäinen
The new high-voltage connection will increase the electricity transmission capacity of the capital city and secure sufficient and reliable electricity supply in the future. The 400-kilovolt grid will enable the transmission of substantially larger power volumes into the city.
In the first planning phase, the focus will be on determining the route between Vanhakaupunki and Sörnäinen. The aim of the project is to ensure that Helsinki remains a vibrant city where new investments and business activities can grow without bottlenecks related to electricity supply.
The planning of the 400-kilovolt grid is part of Helen Electricity Network’s long-term work to develop Helsinki’s electricity grid to meet the city’s growth and the goals of the clean transition. It lays the foundation for the capital region’s long-term growth and enables development based on clean energy.