50Hertz begins construction of Südharz grid link
The new 380-kV overhead line will replace 220-kV line, boosting capacity, easing grid stress, and securing supply for Germany’s energy transition.
Image for illustrative purposes
Germany: 50Hertz has launched construction of the Südharz grid connection, a major infrastructure project under Germany’s Federal Requirements Plan Act. The new 380-kV overhead line will stretch 145 km and replace the existing 220-kV line built in 1988, significantly increasing transmission capacity and grid stability.
Work began on 1 September near Sömmerda in Thuringia with the foundation of the first tower. The line will be built in two sections, north and south, with construction now underway on the southern section between Nordhausen and Erfurt. This will require 180 towers, supported by preliminary works including road building, archaeological studies, and species protection surveys.
Once commissioned in 2028, the line will connect the Wolkramshausen substation near Nordhausen to the Vieselbach substation near Erfurt, carrying up to 4,000 A per three-phase system. The old 220-kV line will remain in use until then, after which it will be dismantled.
The project will improve the region’s extra-high voltage grid, ensuring security of supply and accommodating increasing load flows from north-east to south-west Germany. By relieving pressure on heavily used connections such as the Bad Lauchstädt–Vieselbach route, the Südharz link will make a substantial contribution to the energy transition.
The Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA) granted planning approval for the southern section in March 2025, and for the northern section, between the future Schraplau/Obhausen substation and Wolkramshausen, in July 2025. With both approvals secured, 50Hertz is moving ahead with full construction, supported by a dedicated project information website for stakeholders and the public.
Source: 50hertz
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