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Power from the North sea to cross Germany

By: Chris Anderson 06/06/2023 Tennet/Chris Anderson

General Grid

With the „Gesetz zum Neustart der Digitalisierung der Energiewende“ ( Digitization of the Energy Transition Act), which came into force a few days ago, the Bundestag has cleared the way to significantly accelerate planned power connections in the future through a new approval process. The transmission system operators TenneT and 50Hertz are to use this approach for their joint NordOstLink underground cable project.

Together with new requirements for environmental protection and species protection, grid expansion is envisaged to accelerate, which they consider to be an urgently needed step towards the energy transition.

NordOstLink is a high-voltage direct current transmission line and connecting the area of Heide in the district of Dithmarschen with the area Klein Rogahn near Schwerin (approx. 165 kilometers as the crow flies). The project is planned as a 525-kilovolt underground cable in accordance with legal requirements and will transmit a capacity of two gigawatts. In addition, empty pipes will be laid in order to avoid additional construction work in the event of a future need for additional transmission capacity. Since the line crosses the grid areas of TenneT and 50Hertz , the two transmission system operators are implementing the project together.

It has long been recognised that Electricity generated from wind energy on the west coast of Schleswig-Holstein and in the North Sea would benefit from being transported to areas such as Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and southern Germany. NordOstLink will act in effect as a central power bridge essential for a secure, stable and sustainable power supply in the future.

Stefan Kapferer, Managing Director of 50Hertz commented “The direct current underground cable connection NordOstLink is central to the integration of the enormous offshore wind power potential of the North Sea into the German transmission grid. Together with our partner TenneT, we have therefore decided to use the acceleration potential of the new legal regulations. The NordOstLink is thus becoming an important pilot project. The energy transition needs more speed, so now it's time to tackle things together and find pragmatic solutions,"

TenneT COO Tim Meyerjürgens added The initiative of the federal government is an important step on the way to the climate neutrality network 2045. Rapid network expansion is absolutely necessary in order to achieve the climate goals of the federal government. That is why NordOstLink should be transporting green electricity from the North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as early as 2032, and theoretically supply five million households with electricity,”

A total of three DC connections are to converge at the starting point of the NordOstLink: two new offshore lines and the NordOstLink. These lines are linked in a direct current hub that is unique in Europe: the HeideHub. Together, the NordOstLink and the HeideHub form the foundation for the development of a meshed and thus more needs-based direct current network in Germany.

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Power from the North sea to cross Germany

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