Progress in network expansion: Bundesnetzagentur approves last section of SuedLink power line in Lower Saxony
Year of issue 2025
Date of issue 2025.09.24
The Bundesnetzagentur has today completed the planning approval procedure for another section of the SuedLink power line. Projects 3 and 4 in the Federal Requirements Plan Act (BBPlG) run parallel to each other, as is the case for most of the SuedLink line. The two lines will be laid by TenneT as underground cables. Today’s decision means that 14 out of 15 sections of the SuedLink line have now been approved.
Route between Scheeßel (Rotenburg (Wümme) rural district) and the boundary between Heidekreis and Hanover Region
The section runs through the rural districts of Rotenburg (Wümme), Nienburg (Weser) and Heidekreis in Lower Saxony and is around 68 kilometres long. The route begins north of Scheeßel in the rural district of Rotenburg (Wümme) and then runs east of the main part of Scheeßel. Near Eichenring racing track (Scheeßel) the route crosses agricultural land that is regularly used by campers during the Hurricane Festival. TenneT has coordinated its construction timetable with the organisers so as not to disrupt the festival.
The route continues towards Bothel and runs through the western parts of Visselhövede. It then runs northwest of Walsrode and passes under the A27 motorway using trenchless technology. TenneT is constructing a cable section station in Vethem (Walsrode); work on the station began in advance in August 2025 with the approval of the Bundesnetzagentur. The route then runs east of Groß Eilstorf (Walsrode) and passes under the Aller river and adjacent protected areas between Böhme and Frankenfeld for nearly 1.5 km, again using trenchless technology. It then turns east, runs through the rural district of Nienburg (Weser) for a short length and continues towards Gilten-Nienhagen and Gilten-Suderbruch (Schwarmstedt in Heidekreis rural district). The route ends west of Stöckendrebber (Neustadt am Rübenberge) at the boundary between Heidekreis and Hanover Region.
The Bundesnetzagentur is due to publish its planning approval decision (in German) on 27 October 2025 at www.netzausbau.de/vorhaben3-b1 and www.netzausbau.de/vorhaben4-b1.
SuedLink power line as the backbone of the energy transition
The SuedLink power line consists of two direct-current lines. Project 3 connects Brunsbüttel in Schleswig-Holstein with Großgartach/Leingarten in Baden-Württemberg. Project 4 runs from Wilster to Bergrheinfeld in Bavaria. The two lines will be laid as underground cables and run mostly parallel to each other. TenneT and TransnetBW are the transmission system operators responsible for planning, constructing and operating the lines.
The Bundesnetzagentur regularly updates the forecast on progress in electricity grid expansion and publishes the updates (in German) at www.netzausbau.de/prognose.