50Hertz has commissioned the Uckermark line, expanding the transmission grid between Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Brandenburg in Germany, to support the energy transition.
The new 380 kV overhead lines between Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Brandenburg will increase electricity transport capacity by three times, alleviating grid bottlenecks and reducing costs for electricity customers by up to €230m.
Stefan Kapferer, Chairman of the Management Board of 50Hertz, said: “At 50Hertz, we are of course happy about every new power line that goes online in our control area – but especially about the Uckermark line.
“The new overhead line between Pasewalk and Neuenhagen reduces the curtailment of wind turbines and photovoltaic systems by up to one billion kilowatt hours per year.”
Michael Kellner, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, added: “The commissioning of the Uckermark line has been a long time coming.
“In the meantime, the share of renewable energies has continued to rise.
“Feeding solar and wind power safely into the grid is much easier with the new overhead line. This strengthens the energy supply in the region and far beyond.
“The Uckermark line also creates a high-performance connection between the German and Polish electricity markets, thus increasing security of supply in both countries.
“The project is therefore an important building block on the way to a secure, affordable and environmentally friendly energy supply and for the development of Germany as a business location.”
The overall Uckermark line project consists of the construction of the 380 kV Bertikow – Pasewalk overhead line (BBPlG project 11) and the construction of the Neuenhagen-Bertikow-Vierraden-Krajnik extra-high voltage line (EnLAG project 3).
The two lines, which are around 150 km in total, will contribute to the secure and sustainable supply of clean energy and make an important contribution to achieving German and European climate protection targets.
The project is the first in Germany to be approved by the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) in accordance with the so-called Grid Expansion Acceleration Act Transmission Grid (NABEG).