Apr 15, 2025
A new power line connecting northern and southern Germany is anticipated to be completed by mid-2027.

Germany's grid regulator has given the green light for the A-Nord power link, which is set to go live by mid-2027 as part of an upgrade to transmit wind energy from the northern to the southern regions of the country. Klaus Mueller, the head of the Bundesnetzagentur, also anticipates that the second line, Ultranet, will receive approval later this year, indicating an acceleration in network expansion. Mueller is responsible for the construction of 9,600 kilometers (5,965 miles) of high-voltage grids necessary for Germany's transition to more renewable energy and decarbonization, with 4,400 km expected to be approved this year. A-Nord, a 2-gigawatt underground direct current line spanning over 300 km in northwestern Germany, has been in planning since 2018 to connect the Emden offshore wind power port with Meerbusch near Düsseldorf. It will connect to Ultranet, creating a combined corridor of about 600 km. This direct current transmission technology enhances delivery speed and reduces transmission losses compared to the more common alternating current lines in Europe. Ultranet, which will primarily follow existing overhead lines, is planned to extend from Düsseldorf to Philippsburg in Baden-Württemberg, where major industrial power consumers like Mercedes-Benz and Bosch are based.