Federal agency green-lights highways for electricity transportation
In the heart of Europe, Germany is making significant strides in its four major High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) power highways as part of an extensive infrastructure and energy transition push. The government has allocated substantial funding through the €100 billion Climate and Transformation Fund (KTF) to accelerate investments in HVDC transmission lines crucial for integrating renewable energy sources from the wind-rich northern regions to the industrial south.
Among the key HVDC corridors, some well-known projects like A-Nord and SuedLink are under development or enhancement, along with related grid modernization efforts. These projects aim to facilitate the large-scale transfer of electricity, particularly from offshore wind generation near the North Sea, to southern Germany’s industrial base. Supporting infrastructure such as battery energy storage systems is also being deployed along these corridors to improve grid stability and congestion management.
The debate over underground cables versus overhead lines remains a contentious issue in Germany. While underground cables are favoured by many local communities for their reduced visual and environmental impact, they come with considerably higher installation costs and longer construction times compared to overhead lines. The government and grid operators are carefully balancing these factors, with recent policy and planning shifts seeming to favour more underground cabling, especially near densely populated or environmentally sensitive areas. However, overhead lines still dominate many sections due to cost efficiency and technical feasibility, and this debate continues to spark public and political discussions given its implications for cost, public acceptance, and energy transmission reliability.
One such project, the South-East Link, is planned to be realized completely as an underground cable. The debate does not concern the four major power highways, of which Ultranet and South Link are not yet fully permitted, and permits for five sections are still outstanding. The South-East Link's priority was set in response to public protests against overhead lines in 2015.
The South-East Link, a significant step in strengthening Germany's networks, is a direct current connection with 525 kV, consisting of two projects: Project 5 from Wolmirstedt (Saxony-Anhalt) to Isar near Landshut (Bavaria), and Project 5a, which begins in Klein Rogahn (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) and also ends in Isar. The responsible transmission network operators for the South-East Link are Tennet (Bavaria) and 50Hertz (Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony).
The acceleration of procedures for the South-East Link has been successful, with approval processes taking less time than eight years ago. Fewer complaints and faster permits have been observed, and the potential savings for three new lines DC 40, DC 41, and DC 42 could amount to around 16.5 billion euros. The start of operation for Project 5 is planned for 2027, for Project 5a it is planned for 2030.
The Aarhus Convention, a ratified international agreement by Germany, requires public participation in decision-making procedures and ensures associations access to courts in environmental matters. However, Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs, Hubert Aiwanger, is calling for a nationwide suspension of the association lawsuit right for three years and renegotiation of the Aarhus Convention. This move aims to gain momentum in the expansion of new power highways, such as the South-East Link.
In Bavaria, four cables run in two parallel trenches over 270 km. The Federal Network Agency expects to complete 28 plan approvals by the end of this year, with around 4400 approved line kilometers, which is around 1750 more than at the end of last year. This reflects Germany’s broader energy policy goals of decarbonization, energy security, and infrastructure modernization within its ambitious Climate and Transformation agenda.
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- Germany's extensive energy transition strategy, funded by the €100 billion Climate and Transformation Fund (KTF), not only includes the development of High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) power highways but also investments in technology, such as battery energy storage systems, to ensure grid stability and manage congestion efficiently.
- As part of the debate over infrastructure development, some projects like the South-East Link are planned to be completely underground, demonstrating Germany's commitment to both finance and technology investments while considering local community concerns and environmental impact.
