Germany starts construction of North-South power line pivotal for energy transition

Germany has initiated one of its single most important energy transition projects with the start of construction of the SuedLink power transmission line. Construction of key sections of the direct current power line, which connects the country’s windy northern states with industrial centres in the south over some 700 kilometres, has started in coastal state Schleswig-Holstein and in southern Baden-Württemberg. The SuedLink project is scheduled to be finished in 2028 and comes at an estimated cost of 10 billion euros, the economy and climate ministry (BMWK) said. “SuedLink will allow Germany’s south to benefit from the huge amounts of wind power in the north. This will bolster supply security in Germany and for our neighbour countries,” minister Robert Habeck said. The section that crosses the Elbe River in northern Germany and is managed by grid operator Tennet is considered to be the technically most challenging segment of the power line, Habeck said, adding that planning for implementation was ongoing along the project’s entire length.

One end of SuedLink will in be Bergrheinfeld in southeastern state Bavaria and another in Großgartach in southeastern Baden-Wurttemberg. After fervent protests by residents delayed construction for several years, SuedLink is now planned as an underground line on most parts of its route through the country. With a transmission capacity of 4 gigawatts, the power line technically could supply about ten million households with electricity. In addition to the launch of SuedLink construction works, Habeck announced that the so-called West Coast Line (Westküstenleitung) that connects Germany with wind power-rich Denmark is nearing completion.