Approval for penultimate section of the south-east link

31.03.2025

Source: E & M pwoernews

The Federal Network Agency today completed the eighth of nine planning approval procedures for the Südostlink. The A1 section runs between Wolmirstedt and Könnern in Saxony-Anhalt.

With its decision of 31 March, the Federal Network Agency approved a further 88 kilometers of the south-east link. Transmission system operator 50 Hertz is constructing around 18 kilometers of the new line as an overhead line, while underground cables will be laid along the rest of the section.

The decision also means that the Hohe Börde cable transfer station to the west of Magdeburg and the cable section station to the east of Könnern can be built. This means that around 488 km of the approximately 540 km long south-east link has been approved.

On the overhead line route in the northern area of the section, interference with the ground was minimized by using existing overhead lines on a hybrid linkage. In addition, section A1 crosses the Mittelland Canal, the Bode and the Saale. Stone Age finds were discovered during archaeological excavations in the area of the route.

The Federal Network Agency had approved several applications for an early start to construction in this section since spring 2024. As a result, 50 Hertz has already been able to start initial construction work. In addition, some roads and watercourses have already been crossed using the closed method. This allows the lines to be laid underground using pipes.

Route between Wolmirstedt and Könnern

The route of project 5 begins at the converter site in the area of the Wolmirstedt substation as an overhead line and runs from there partly as a hybrid line in a southerly direction up to Magdeburg. There it changes from overhead line to underground cable at the cable transfer station west of Magdeburg, and the cables from project 5a are also added. Southwest of Magdeburg, the route swings to the southeast.

It turns south at Welsleben, runs east of Förderstedt and meets the A14 at Neugattersleben shortly before crossing the Bode. Bundled with the highway, the route continues south between Ilberstedt and Bernburg (Saale) and turns southeast north of Alsleben (Saale), where it crosses the Saale and finally ends east of Könnern on the border between the Salzlandkreis and Saalekreis districts.

Südostlink as an important main axis of the energy transition

The Südostlink project consists of grid expansion project 5 and part of project 5a. The projects are each planned with a transmission capacity of 2,000 MW and a voltage of 525 kV. Project 5 connects the two substations Wolmirstedt and Isar. Project 5a runs from the district of Ludwigslust-Parchim to the Isar substation. From the district of Börde onwards, both projects run in parallel.

The Südostlink will transport high-voltage direct current from north-eastern Germany to Bavaria. Project 5 is scheduled to go online in 2027, project 5a in 2030. The transmission system operators Tennet and 50 Hertz are responsible for the planning, construction and operation of the Südostlink.

The planning approval decision for the Südostlink will be available online from April 14.

Author: Susanne Harmsen