TenneT and 50Hertz have secured the production of cables for the second cable system forming the SuedOstLink, which will enable wind power to be transported from north to south Germany.
With the early commissioning of the two “experienced underground cable manufacturers” NKT and Prysmian, 50Hertz and TenneT stated they are optimising the project schedule.
The first cable deliveries have already been made for the first underground cable system of the SuedOstLink, a direct current connection between Saxony-Anhalt and Bavaria.
Production, delivery and assembly of the underground cables is expected in 2024/2025, coordinating the delivery of both cable systems.
Tim Meyerjürgens, chief operating officer of TenneT, said: “Securing cable production and delivery is an important milestone in the realisation of the SuedOstLink, even against the background of the currently very tense markets.
“The SuedOstLink is one of the most important future power supply lines in Germany on the way to climate neutrality.
“In the further planning process, we aim to lay the two parallel cable systems as coordinated as possible.”
The SuedOstLink runs from Wolmirstedt near Magdeburg in Saxony-Anhalt to ISAR near Landshut in Bavaria.
A pair of underground cables of the SuedOstLinks connects Wolmirstedt with ISAR (Project 5).
It is scheduled to go into operation in 2027 and supply Bavaria with 2GW of electricity from North and East German wind energy.
Another 2GW underground cable pair for the SuedOstLink forms a line connection between the börde district and ISAR.
This is the southern part of Project 5a between the Klein Rogahn area west of Schwerin in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and also ISAR, which was included in the Federal Requirements Plan Act in 2021.
All sections of the SuedOstLink line are currently in the planning approval process.
For the two cable connections of the SuedOstLink, two underground cable harnesses are laid in two separate cable trenches, resulting in a total length of 2100 km for the required underground cables.
The northern part of project 5a between the Klein Rogahn area and the Börde district is included in a separate project called SuedOstLink+.
This part is still before the federal sectoral planning.
The cable production for this newly planned section has therefore not yet been awarded.
Project 5a is scheduled to go into operation in 2030.