Progress in grid expansion: Bundesnetzagentur approves second A-Nord section
Year of issue 2024
Date of issue 2024.08.21
The Bundesnetzagentur has today completed the planning approval procedure for the second section of the A-Nord power line. The Bundesnetzagentur has given joint approval for the A-Nord line and the DolWin4 and BorWin4 offshore transmission links.
The three lines run parallel to each other between Emden Ost and the border between Leer and Emsland rural districts. All the lines will be laid underground and constructed at the same time.
In autumn 2023 the Bundesnetzagentur had already approved an application for an early start to preparatory construction work on this section. Today's decision confirms the planning. The DolWin4 and BorWin4 projects had been designated in legislation as not needing to undergo federal sectoral planning. The planning approval procedure for the three power lines has now ended after less than three years.
Section between Emden and Leer/Emsland rural district border
The section, which is approximately 32 kilometres long, begins at Emden Ost grid connection point. The DolWin4 and BorWin4 lines join the route to the east of that point and run parallel to the A-Nord for the next 30 kilometres. The joint route runs under the Ems side canal and the River Ems. South of the River Ems it runs through the Rheiderland region and under the A280 motorway. It ends at the border between Leer and Emsland rural districts near Rhede, where the next section, which is also a joint route, starts. The Bundesnetzagentur approved this joint section on 29 May 2024.
Today's decision confirms the route of the A-Nord power line for the second of a total of six sections. The Bundesnetzagentur is responsible for approving the section of the DolWin4 and BorWin4 lines between Emden and Wietmarschen as a cross-border project. This section has now been fully approved. The other sections of the line to the north and the south are the responsibility of Lower Saxony federal state.
The Bundesnetzagentur plans to publish the planning approval decision on its website between 9 September 2024 and 23 September 2024. Announcement of the decision and further information can be found in the local press and online at www.netzausbau.de/vorhaben1-nds1; www.netzausbau.de/vorhaben78-nds1; www.netzausbau.de/vorhaben79-nds1 (in German).
Transport of renewable electricity to the south
The A-Nord project from Emden Ost to Osterath and the Ultranet project from Osterath to Philippsburg together make up corridor A. This corridor is for a new high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) line running from north to south.
Amprion is the transmission system operator responsible for the A-Nord project. The line will transport renewable electricity generated offshore in the North Sea and onshore in the north to the west of Germany. The whole line is due to go into operation in 2027.
The DolWin4 and BorWin4 projects will connect offshore wind farms in the North Sea to the German transmission network. Amprion and Amprion Offshore are jointly responsible for implementing and operating the projects. The onshore termination point is at Hanekenfähr substation, where there is free capacity to transport electricity generated from wind power to the south of the country following the closure of Emsland nuclear power plant in Lingen (Ems). The lines are due to become operational in 2028.
Further information on electricity grid expansion
In August the Bundesnetzagentur approved approximately 322 kilometres of lines in planning approval procedures and 102 kilometres of route corridors in federal sectoral planning procedures. The Bundesnetzagentur regularly updates its forecast on progress in grid expansion; the forecast is available online at www.netzausbau.de/netzausbauprognose (in German).
Information on the individual projects can be found at www.netzausbau.de (in German).