Berlin, GERMANY - Once it is commissioned in 2025, the new overhead line will transport around 40% more electricity than the current line.

50Hertz has announced that they have been given permission to finalize the overhead line between Saxony and Thuringia. They were granted planning approval by the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) to undertake an upgrade of the eastern section of the 380 kV line between the substations of Röhrsdorf (near Chemnitz) and Weida (in the Thuringian district of Greiz).

The approval procedure that the project underwent is being held up as a prime example of how successful approval procedures across federal state borders should go and is already being used as a blueprint for similar line construction projects.

Stefan Kapferer commented on the approach during the meeting in Bonn as follows: "Today is another important day for the energy transition. I would like to thank the Federal Network Agency for the positive and trusting relationship that we established and the 50Hertz planning team for their great commitment to the project. During the approval procedure, we gained important experience that will help us to speed up other projects. The energy transition needs to proceed at a faster pace, both in terms of the renewable energy sources that need to be connected to the system and the expansion of the grid itself. Each kilowatt-hour of electricity from renewable sources that we generate in Germany and transport to households and companies is another kilowatt-hour that can contribute to climate protection and our energy sovereignty".

According to 50Hertz, construction work along the western section of the line between Weida and the Remptendorf substation has already started. The construction work for the entire project is likely to take three years to complete. Once it is commissioned in 2025, the new overhead line will transport around 40% more electricity than the current line, as its transmission capacity will be increased from 2,500 to 3,600 amperes per circuit.

Source: 50Hertz