Dutch-German transmission system operator (TSO) TenneT has placed a new substation in north Germany into service.
The Wilster-West substation, in Schleswig-Holstein, is part of investments into the grid to further integrate more renewable and variable generation.
The infrastructure links offshore wind power off the north-west coast, as well as the NordLink interconnector with the transmission network.
TenneT managing director Tim Meyerjurgens said: “This substation is a central hub for the transport of electricity from the north to the south.
“Here the electricity from renewable sources is taken and distributed to regions with high consumption.
“The Wilster area is of outstanding importance for the energy transition. In the network area between Wilster, Brokdorf, Itzehoe and Brunsbuttel, three new extra-high voltage lines from TenneT will converge: West Coast Line, NordLink and also SuedLink at a later date.”
The output of the former substation at Wilster was no longer sufficient to guarantee the avoidance of impermissible load flows and short-circuit resistance.
As part of the expansion of the substation, the existing 380 kV switchgear was renewed and a connection to the converter stations of the two high-voltage direct current transmission projects SuedLink and NordLink was created.
In addition, a 110 kV switchgear system was built, which also enables the dismantling of the 220 kV switchgear at Itzehoe-West.
After the new substation at Wilster has been commissioned, the old system will be dismantled, to make room for the SuedLink converters too.