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Federal government wants to expand power lines faster

In order to bring the electricity produced in the north to the south, functioning power lines are needed. The German government now wants to speed up the expansion of the grid by amending the law.

,   and  Katherine Bradley
2 min read
The traffic light coalition wants to amend the Federal Requirements Plan Act. The main aim is to be...
The traffic light coalition wants to amend the Federal Requirements Plan Act. The main aim is to be able to transport the electricity produced in the north of Germany to the south and west of the country more quickly in future.

Energy transition - Federal government wants to expand power lines faster

The German federal government, according to the Economy Ministry's statements, plans to significantly accelerate the expansion of power grids. This will involve advancing the construction of several power lines, as the ministry informed dpa in response to an inquiry. Previously, the "Augsburger Allgemeine" had reported that this change to the so-called Federal Requirements Planning Act is to be passed in the Bundestag next Friday.

Power should reach the south and west faster

"Power will reach the south and west more quickly," said FDP energy politician Lukas Köhler to dpa. The change concerns two routes that are to be built faster: the so-called Nord-Ost-Link, which transports power from Schleswig-Holstein to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and the Rhein-Main-Link. The Rhein-Main-Link will help to better transport power from Lower Saxony to the south in the future.

"We can only achieve a secure power supply at affordable prices through a rapid expansion of the power grids," emphasized FDP parliamentary group vice chairman Köhler. It is "absolutely right" to build these two new routes as quickly as possible.

Green Party also in favor

"We will all benefit strongly from the power grid expansion," said Ingrid Nestle, spokesperson for energy and climate protection for the Greens, to dpa. With the new high-voltage lines, above all cheaper offshore wind power in southern Germany and "to industrial centers" will be led. "We reduce costs that arise from the use of more expensive fossil power plants."

The law is to be "starting shot for construction"

In the corresponding legislative draft of the coalition, it says: "Given the current regional imbalance in energy production and consumption, it is necessary to transport power over long distances." By advancing the projects, "bottlenecks in the power supply within the German network" are to be eliminated.

Exactly when the construction of the routes can begin depends on the plans of the Federal Network Agency and the transmission network operators. Once the law is passed, however, this will be the "starting shot for construction," emphasized FDP parliamentary group vice chairman Köhler.

  1. The proposed changes to the Federal Requirements Planning Act will be discussed in the Bundestag next Friday, aiming to accelerate the expansion of power grids in the Rhine-Main area.
  2. The Rhine-Main-Link, one of the two routes targeted for faster construction, will help transport power from Lower Saxony to the south more efficiently.
  3. The Federal Government, in response to an inquiry, has confirmed plans to advance the construction of several power lines, including the Rhein-Main-Link, to help with the country's energy transition.
  4. The power grid expansion is crucial for achieving a secure and affordable power supply, as stated by FDP energy politician Lukas Köhler.
  5. The change in the Federal Requirements Planning Act will also include advances in the construction of the Nord-Ost-Link, which transports power from Schleswig-Holstein to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
  6. Ingrid Nestle, the Greens' spokesperson for energy and climate protection, supports the power grid expansion, emphasizing its potential to bring cheaper offshore wind power to southern Germany and industrial centers.
  7. Once the law is passed, the construction of these routes will serve as a "starting shot," according to FDP parliamentary group vice chairman Köhler, with precise timelines depending on the plans of the Federal Network Agency and transmission network operators.
  8. The expansion of power grids is a key element of Germany's efforts to combat climate change and transition towards renewable energy sources, like wind and solar power.

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