Germany's electricity highways are growing

Germany's electricity highways are growing – but at what pace? The question isn't easily answered. But a look at the details reveals where progress is being made and where there are still shortcomings.

Four transmission system operators are responsible for the construction of new power lines: 50Hertz Transmission for eastern Germany, Amprion for the west, TransnetBW for Baden-Württemberg in the southwest and Tennet TSO for a central corridor from Schleswig-Holstein in the north to Bavaria in the south.

For these companies, the Federal Network Agency has defined five steps that must be completed before construction begins.

This begins with the creation of a "scenario framework" in which the four grid operators are to present the likely development of energy supply and demand. They must then prepare a "grid development plan" and submit an "environmental report." The third step involves the creation of a "federal requirements plan" before, in the fourth step, a "spatial planning procedure" is carried out. The final step is the official "plan approval."

Construction could now begin, but at this point the Federal Network Agency or a responsible state authority is still conducting a final "environmental impact assessment."

The current status

According to the Federal Network Agency, the federal requirements laid down in the laws on the expansion of energy lines (EnLAG) and the Federal Requirements Plan (BBPIG) include approximately 128 construction projects with a total length of 16,832 km of power lines by the end of 2024. Of these, 34 projects have already been "fully completed," according to the agency.

That sounds like a lot and a fast pace. However, the Federal Network Agency also expects construction work to drag on for another eight to 20 years, unless additional projects are added.

Distractions

But there are always some irritations. For example, the President of the Federal Network Agency, Klaus Müller, told Handelsblatt in May 2025: "We must reform the system by which network charges are levied."

For many electricity customers, grid charges (a fee charged for using the electricity grid) now account for a quarter of their electricity costs. These charges vary regionally. Currently, only electricity consumers pay for grid usage. In the future, electricity suppliers , such as operators of power plants or photovoltaic systems, may also be asked to pay.

When it comes to grid expansion, public and taxpayer acceptance is extremely important. So far, there's been little general opposition. However, that could change if electricity customers become even more expensive. One angry citizen can cause massive delays.

It could also go faster

It's generally impossible to set a date for the completion of expansion projects. "Grid expansion is not a task that will be completed at a specific point in time," says Tennet spokeswoman Maria Köhler. It's "an ongoing process" toward a "climate-neutral grid," which includes the "target horizon of 2037 and an extended perspective to 2045."

In individual cases, it can (or rather, should) happen faster. According to spokesperson Katrin Dietl, 50Hertz has ambitious goals: "In our grid area (Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia, as well as Berlin and Hamburg), we want to safely integrate 100 percent renewable energies into the grid and system by 2032."

What is hindering expansion

But she also knows that things don't always move that quickly. Obstacles to expanding the power grid include "skilled labor shortages, supply bottlenecks, and lengthy approval processes."

Tennet sees the same problems: In this "technically and organizationally complex project," many factors play a role, such as "permits and coordination with authorities, access to land, material availability, transport logistics, and skilled labor capacities."

Network operator TransnetBW emphasizes one point in particular: "The biggest obstacles in the past were the long and complex approval procedures," says spokeswoman Claudia Halici. For the SuedLink project, "the planning and approval alone took approximately seven years."

The Federal Network Agency also recognizes this problem. However, Marta Mituta identifies other stumbling blocks, such as "the short-term rescheduling of temporary measures, species protection measures, or updated results of alternative assessments."

Reasons for the expansion

The production of "green" electricity in the form of wind power takes place primarily in the northern German states. In addition, there is electricity that is piped from Scandinavia (Denmark and Norway) to the coasts of the North and Baltic Seas. This must be transported to the south – and for this, the German long-distance power grid must be expanded.

Two aspects play a role in the expansion. Firstly, there is the desired climate neutrality . Thus, by 2045, the entire electricity demand of the Federal Republic of Germany is to be covered by renewable sources. Secondly,

Security policy considerations have also been added in recent years. Following what then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz called a turning point —Russia's invasion of Ukraine—Germany's energy supply has become more difficult.

Although it has succeeded in becoming largely independent of Russian gas and oil supplies in an astonishingly short time, energy self-sufficiency is becoming increasingly important for Germany.

Direct current or alternating current

When building power lines, the fundamental question that must first be clarified is how the energy should be transported: as direct current or alternating current? Direct current is clearly more economical when it comes to longer distances. This results in the lowest voltage losses.

But converting direct current into alternating current, like the one we get from our electrical outlets here, requires converter stations. These are very expensive to build, but the longer the distance the electricity is transported, the more profitable they become.

Overhead line or underground cable?

Another fundamental question is: above ground or underground? High-voltage lines, which are exposed to storms and snowfall and are particularly vulnerable to military threats, or underground cables? These don't disrupt the landscape and are better protected against terrorist or military attacks , but they are much more expensive.

The grid operators have a clear preference: "TransnetBW has long advocated abolishing the general priority for underground cabling in new extra-high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission lines. For the OstWestLink, NordWestLink, and SuedWestLink projects, we expect savings of 20 to 23 billion euros compared to underground cabling," says Claudia Halici . This would roughly halve the costs.

Katrin Dietl also anticipates savings of 20 billion euros: "That's why 50Hertz is advocating for a switch to overhead lines for new projects." But changing horses isn't a good idea, she says: "A change to measures already approved by law would potentially lead to significant delays."

Fear of the dark doldrums

The major weakness of renewable energy is its limited availability – the sun doesn't shine at night, and there isn't always enough wind at sea. This is the nightmare for every renewable energy producer: the dark doldrums.

But something can be done about this. With the help of large storage facilities, electricity can be "stored," so to speak, and fed back into the grid when needed. Hydroelectric power plants, which are often found in mountainous areas, can do this. But they take up a lot of space and aren't a decorative feature of the landscape. And in the North German lowlands, they can't be installed at all due to the lack of mountains and valleys.

Instead, scientists are working on large underground batteries to install. They promise significantly low power loss while maintaining constant energy availability. However, most models are not yet market-ready. When they become market-ready, they could be a useful addition to a smart power grid for the entire country.