German state governments clash over route of new north-south power transmission line

The government of central German state Thuringia has criticised neighbouring state Bavaria and the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) for opaque planning of one of the country’s important north-south electricity transmission lines that are needed to better distribute renewable power across all of Germany. Thuringia’s incumbent state premier, Bodo Ramelow of the Left Party, said on social media site X that Bavaria’s government “refuses to transmit electricity” from its northern border with Thuringia. He said Thuringia had done its part by ensuring a grid link dubbed “Thüringer Strombrücke” (Thuringian Power Bridge) to the border is in place and could even be expanded to transmit more electricity from Germany’s windy north to industrial centres in the south.

The Thuringian state premier was reacting to plans released some months ago by national grid regulator BNetzA which propose building a linkage between the existing end of the major power line in Thuringia to Bavaria. According to public broadcaster MDR, the proposal suggests constructing the power line further through Thuringia before connecting with a relay station in Bavaria, rather than within the borders of Bavaria. MDR said that Ramelow criticised the BNetzA for rejecting an alternative proposal from Thuringia to also consider a route through Bavaria, although the agency insists that no decisions have been made yet.

Bavaria’s economy minister, Hubert Aiwanger from the Free Voters, who has in the past celebrated that the state avoided transmission grid expansion, said in early 2024 that a new power line to Bavaria was now essential while promoting a solution that “straddles Bavarian territory less” than other routes. Disputes over the exact route of Germany’s major power transmission lines have held up construction of this key component of the country’s energy transition for years.

In Bavaria, industry groups and local mayors have repeatedly criticised the coalition of economy minister Aiwanger and conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) state premier Markus Söder for not being resolute enough in the transition to renewables. They urged the government to lift restrictions on wind power construction, particularly since the loss of Russian gas and the nuclear and coal phase outs have hit the state’s heavy industry, which features companies such as BMW, Audi and Siemens, harder than many others in Germany.