Further progress in grid expansion: Bundesnetzagentur approves last section of the SuedOstLink power line
Year of issue 2025
Date of issue 2025.07.25
The Bundesnetzagentur has today completed the planning approval procedure for the last section of the SuedOstLink power line.
"The SuedOstLink is now the second important extra-high voltage line that we have fully approved, after the A-Nord. This is another major step in the reinforcement of the networks. Now construction can start in the last section as well,"
said Klaus Müller, President of the Bundesnetzagentur.
The SuedOstLink power line is one of the key projects for Germany’s energy transition. It will transport high-voltage direct-current over a distance of about 543 kilometres from the northeast of Germany to Bavaria. It starts in Wolmirstedt (Saxony-Anhalt) and ends at the Isar transformer station (Bavaria). It is planned to go into operation in 2027.
Section from Pfreimd to Nittenau
The route of section D1 has now been finalised as a 55 km, underground, direct-current line between Pfreimd and Nittenau in Bavaria.
The line starts west of Pfreimd in the rural district of Schwandorf and runs to the south and slightly westwards, passing Stulln and Schwarzenfeld to the west. The line turns westwards before reaching Schwandorf. From there, it continues southeast past Fischbach to a point level with Katzdorf. From Katzdorf, it takes a route east to Kaspeltshub and then turns south again, passing to the west of Nittenau and ending west of Goppeltshof.
From the beginning of 2024 the Bundesnetzagentur had approved several applications for an early start to work on this section of the power line. This made it possible for TenneT TSO GmbH to begin with the initial construction work. Some ducts for cables have already been installed under roads.
The Bundesnetzagentur is due to publish its planning approval decision (in German) on 18 August 2025 at: www.netzausbau.de/vorhaben5-d1 and www.netzausbau.de/vorhaben5a-d1.
SuedOstLink as a major axis for the energy transition
Today’s decision completes the process of approving all the sections of the SuedOstLink. Work has already started in the previously approved sections.
SuedOstLink is the name of project 5 from the Wolmirstedt transformer station in Saxony-Anhalt to the Isar transformer station in Bavaria. Project 5a joins it at the level of the rural district of Börde and the two projects then run in parallel up to the Isar transformer station, but project 5a already starts further in the north in the rural district of Ludwigslust-Parchim.
Project 5 is due to be connected to the grid in 2027 and project 5a in 2030. Starting in spring 2023, the Bundesnetzagentur approved over 50 applications for an early start to work on the SuedOstLink, allowing the initial construction work – in particular boring, clearing, and conduit-laying – to get underway. Extensive archaeological work was first needed to clear the route for the whole SuedOstLink.
The two transmission system operators TenneT and 50Hertz are responsible for planning, constructing and operating the SuedOstLink power line. The projects each have a transmission capacity of 2 gigawatts and a voltage of 525 kilovolts. A 2 GW capacity can meet the electricity needs of two million people.
The Bundesnetzagentur regularly updates the forecast on progress in electricity grid expansion and publishes the updates at www.netzausbau.de/prognose.