© BMWi/Susanne Eriksson

The energy transition will only succeed if power lines can be used more efficiently and if new ones are built much more quickly than has been the case so far. This is why Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier has declared that he himself will take charge of this work. Says the Minister: “The electricity grids are essential for our electricity supply. Germany is, however, lagging behind as regards the expansion of the grids. I therefore propose measures that will enable us to finally get going, perceptibly accelerate the grid expansion and upgrade existing grids.”

The Electricity Grid Action Plan (German only) is part of a dual strategy: first of all, it is about using innovative technology and operating strategies to optimise the use and utilisation rates of existing grids. Second, it serves to improve internal auditing and simplify planning procedures.

The aim: to optimise existing power lines as a short-term fix and to forge ahead with the construction of new lines in the medium term

So, what will be the impact of the Action Plan and the two strategies underpinning it?

Existing power lines can be optimised, for instance by fitting the pylons supporting overhead lines with better conductor wires to ensure that they can cope with higher temperatures and a greater flow of electricity. In addition to this, special transformers can be used to channel the electricity to those lines that are ready to take up more electricity at that precise moment. Digitising and automating electricity grids can also help improve the utilisation rate of grids whilst maintaining smooth operations. This frees up security reserves that can now be used for regular electricity transport.

With regard to improving the internal auditing of the grid expansion, it is important for all stakeholders involved to coordinate more closely. Grid operators, planning authorities, the federation, the Länder and the Bundesnetzagentur are called upon to work together so that any obstacles and risks are spotted and resolved at an early stage of planning. There are plans for exact target agreements to be included in the procedures themselves.

The Grid Expansion Acceleration Act is to be amended in order to simplify and speed up planning procedures. This could mean, for instance, that the complex authorisation process that has to be completed before power lines can be changed or new ones fitted to existing pylons could, in certain cases, be replaced with a much simpler notification procedure. In cases where power lines are being built in an existing route, the time-consuming proceedings conducted under Federal Sectoral Planning rules could become unnecessary. The new version of the Grid Expansion Acceleration Act could also come with another significant advantage: it would become possible for construction work on a new power line to start even at a stage where approval is still pending on the last few metres of the overall route. The legislative process on the draft legislation for the revised Grid Expansion Acceleration Act is due to begin within a few months’ time.

Local citizens’ dialogue events allow those concerned to discuss solutions

The Electricity Grid Action Plan is one pillar of action. The other is just as important and it concerns broad-based public support for the expansion of the grid. For this reason, Minister Altmaier is holding meetings with citizens in the regions affected by the expansion of the grids, with their MPs, local councillors, with mayors and with representatives of project agencies and planning authorities. Back in August, the Minister undertook his first such visit to regions affected in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony; a second one is planned for November (follow this on twitter #NetzeJetzt). Parallel to this, citizens’ dialogue events are also being held as part of the initiative for a public dialogue on grids, and citizens’ bureaus have opened all across Germany. The Minister is also taking the Länder on board, as the grid expansion ultimately falls into their remit. The grid summit with the Länder ministers in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy on 20 September 2018 is to address the Electricity Grid Action Plan – and specifically the binding internal auditing and the statutory measures required to accelerate the approval procedures.

Minister Altmaier intends to use both the outcome of this meeting and the feedback from the visits to the grid expansion sites and other dialogue meetings as a basis for the further elaboration of the Electricity Grid Action Plan.

There is no alternative to expanding the grid

The expansion of the power grid is crucial for the success of the energy transition. One key reason for this is that electricity from wind energy is mostly generated in the north and the east of Germany, where the wind is particularly strong. But the main electricity consumers – particularly the large industrial operations – are to be found in the south and west of the country. So the wind power generated in the north needs to be transported over large distances to the major centres of consumption in the south.

The optimisation of the existing power lines can only represent a first step towards reducing the existing grid congestion between north and south Germany by 2020 (find out more about grid congestion here). It is necessary to bring about a lasting improvement in the capacity of the grids. So there is no alternative to expanding the grid.

In total, more than 7,500 kilometres of transmission grid will need to be upgraded or newly constructed in the next few years. Of particular importance are the “electricity highways” from north to south Germany: SuedLink, SuedOstLink and A-Nord. These power lines are to come on stream in 2025 and to help make the energy transition a success.

At the same time, it is clear that the currently planned grid expansion projects are not the end of the story. In order to attain the major objective of the energy transition – 80% of electricity generated from renewables by 2050 – other new power lines will be needed. The optimisations of the electricity grid which are to be undertaken now will help to keep this need as small as possible.