Progress in network expansion: Bundesnetzagentur decides on route for second section of SuedOstLink power line
Year of issue 2024
Date of issue 2024.09.27
The Bundesnetzagentur has today completed the planning approval procedure for another section of the SuedOstLink power line. This means the route of the underground direct-current line between Münchenreuth and Marktredwitz in Bavaria has now been finalised.
TenneT TSO GmbH, the network operator responsible, had been able to begin construction work before the planning approval procedure was completed. Last autumn the Bundesnetzagentur had approved the first of several applications for an early start to work on this section of the line. TenneT has now been given full approval.
Route between Münchenreuth and Markredwitz
The section of the power line that has been approved is approximately 55 kilometres long. The route begins where the three federal states of Thuringia, Saxony and Bavaria meet north of Hof and then runs south. It runs east of Hof to Regnitzlosau parallel to the A93 motorway and then from Rehau to Schwarzenbach an der Saale. The route crosses Martinlamitz forest and runs southeast from near Kirchenlamitz, following the route of the Ostbayernring power line. It then goes north of Marktleuthen down to Marktredwitz.
The Bundesnetzagentur plans to publish its planning approval decision on 7 October 2024 at www.netzausbau.de/vorhaben5-c1 and www.netzausbau.de/vorhaben5a-c1. (German web pages).
SuedOstLink power line as a major axis for the energy transition
The SuedOstLink power line is a new high-voltage direct-current transmission line that will run from the north-east of Germany to Bavaria. The new power line will be entirely underground.
It consists of two direct-current lines, each with 2 gigawatts and a voltage of 525 kilovolts. The lines are listed as projects 5 and 5a in the Federal Requirements Plan Act. Project 5 is about 538 kilometres long and runs from Wolmirstedt (north of Magdeburg) to the Isar grid connection point (near Landshut). Project 5a starts in Klein Rogahn (near Schwerin) and meets project 5 in Börde rural district (west of Magdeburg). The two projects then run parallel to each other as the SuedOstLink power line until they reach the Isar grid connection point.
Each of the projects can only be put into operation as a whole because the lines are direct-current lines. Project 5 is due to go into operation in 2027 and project 5a in 2030. The two transmission system operators TenneT and 50Hertz are responsible for planning, constructing and operating the SuedOstLink power line.