Green electricity from north to south - Green light for faster expansion of power lines
To advance the Energy Transition, power grids are to be built up faster. For this, the German Bundestag gave the green light for a legislative amendment on Friday. Consequently, the expansion of two power corridors, which are intended to transport green electricity from northern Germany to the south, is to be accelerated. Specifically, nine power lines are involved, which are now to be taken into the federal requirement plan and built more quickly. Exactly when the construction can begin depends on the plans of the Federal Network Agency and the transmission network operators. With the Bundestag's decision, the expansion can begin as soon as possible.
Power is to reach the South and West faster
With the now passed amendment, it concerns nine power highways, which are planned as underground cables, explained SPD energy politician Markus Hümpfer in the Bundestag. These are part of the so-called Nord-Ost-Link, which transports electricity from Schleswig-Holstein to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and the Rhein-Main-Link. The Rhein-Main-Link is intended to better guide electricity from Lower Saxony to the South in the future.
Costs for electricity customers could increase
The expansion of the lines is expected to cost around 47 billion Euros according to the draft law. In addition, electricity customers could see their costs rise. According to the draft, the network charges, which are passed on to all electricity customers, are to increase by approximately 80 Euros net per year due to the investments. Green politician Ingrid Nestle sees this effect offset by cost savings elsewhere. "We will all benefit strongly from the network expansion," Nestle told the news agency dpa. The additional costs through network charges offset savings, as there will be fewer energy bottlenecks and the use of "more expensive fossil power plants" will be limited. Most households - especially those with low incomes - will not be affected by the increase, she assured.
FDP deputy Lukas Köhler also expects the network expansion to lead to a secure power supply in the long term at "affordable prices."
Besides the new power corridors, the Bundestag was to deal with further legislative amendments for the expansion of renewable energy on Friday. Discussions on comprehensive regulations for the implementation of a corresponding EU directive into national law were to take place. However, according to information from the Federal Ministry of Economics, this discussion was postponed to a "later date."
The federal requirement plan will include nine power lines to promote faster transport of green electricity from northern to southern Germany. These lines are part of the Nord-Ost-Link and Rhine-Main-Link projects, aimed at improving electricity flow from Lower Saxony to the south. The expansion could add approximately 80 Euros per year to network charges for electricity customers, but cost savings from reduced energy bottlenecks and limited use of fossil power plants are expected to offset these costs. The Federal Network Agency and transmission network operators will determine the timeline for construction start. With this decision in Berlin, the energy transition's power grid expansion can commence as quickly as possible. The sooner the Rhine-Main-Link is operational, the more efficient and affordable power supply will become in the long run for German households.
