7th Infrastructure Forum Energieküste

with energy transition trade fair StromVernetzt

Exciting and new things awaited the 230 guests at the 7th Infrastructure Forum Energieküste on 7 May 2025 in the Alte Druckerei in Heide: the 2024 grid bottleneck report, progress on new overhead lines, HVDC underground cable projects and offshore grid connection systems and, last but not least, the energy transition trade fair StromVernetzt, which was initiated by transmission system operator TenneT TSO GmbH. A lot of momentum for the energy transition with numerous opportunities to gather information, discuss and network.

Thorben Schütt, District Administrator of Dithmarschen, summarised the topics of the day in his welcoming address: ‘Dithmarschen and the entire Energieküste have the best prerequisites for sustainable, future-proof value creation and thus for contributing to the economic stabilisation of Germany - now we need clear priorities, stable framework conditions and a strong infrastructure so that this potential can be exploited.’

‘Schleswig-Holstein stays on course’

Energy Transition Minister Tobias Goldschmidt presented encouraging figures with the new 2024 grid bottleneck report: ‘Thanks to strong grid expansion, the number of curtailments for onshore wind turbines continues to fall.’ Although the electricity generation from renewables fed into the grids in Schleswig-Holstein rose to an all-time high of 27.3 TWh in 2024, the curtailment of onshore renewable energy plants in Schleswig-Holstein fell to 828 GWh. In 2019, this figure was still 3,350 GWh.

Renewable electricity in SH is the basis for a good life in the future, protects the climate and is the fuel for a successful economy.

Tobias Goldschmidt, Minister for Energy Transition, Climate Protection, Environment and Nature SH

News from the grids

There was also good news from the extra-high-voltage lines on the Energieküste. The transmission system operators TenneT, Amprion GmbH and 50Hertz Transmission GmbH presented the progress made with new overhead lines, HVDC underground cable projects and offshore grid connection systems. The challenges on the distribution grid levels, presented by Schleswig-Holstein Netz GmbH, provided a good overview for the to-do list. The initial results of the ‘GEMO Westküste 3.0’ project by Projektgesellschaft Norderelbe mbH (PGN) also made it clear that area development and energy infrastructure expansion must go hand in hand.

The direct current hubs that we are building here in Heide, for example, are something completely new, something very special.

Thorsten Dietz, Director Large Projects DC, TenneT

‘The offshore wind power that lands here using direct current technology is collected and forwarded directly in these hubs - but can also be consumed here,’ explained Dietz. ‘An incredible amount of green energy is collected in these hubs. A really great story for the region too, good impetus, good opportunities.’

Joschka Knuth: ‘Carry on!’

The final highlight of the 7th Infrastructure Forum Energieküste was the panel discussion by State Secretary Joschka Knuth. This focussed not least on the new federal government and economic opportunities for the region. Dr Markus Doll, Head of Systems and Grid Operation, Federal Network Agency, assessed CCS in the power supply and the lack of clarity in the hydrogen market as problematic. Dr Benjamin Merkt, Head of Grid Technology, Schleswig-Holstein Netz GmbH, wished for more predictability and for green electricity to become cheaper.

As SH Netz, we have invested well over a billion euros in the expansion and modernisation of the energy grids over the last five years, particularly in order to connect RE.

Dr Benjamin Merkt, Head of Grid Technology, Schleswig-Holstein Netz GmbH

'In the same period, onshore curtailments in SH have fallen by around 75 per cent. This shows that the efforts of SH Netz, TenneT and the state government have paid off,' continued Merkt. Thorsten Dietz, TenneT Director Grid Expansion: 'Strong grids are the backbone of the energy transition. Grid expansion can only succeed if politicians, authorities and companies work together.'

I find the enthusiasm here in the region for shaping the energy transition fascinating.

Dr Markus Doll, Head of Systems and Grid Operation, Federal Network Agency

The panel discussion was very diverse, said Doll. Everyone has a different view of the energy transition and this transformation process. 'It's in the nature of things that there are differences. But the fact that everyone is working on solutions and working towards a goal is quite remarkable.'

Two successful formats in one

The new StromVernetzt trade fair lived up to its name and met with lively interest from guests. ‘Having this dialogue is a very important opportunity for us because we naturally need to hear what it's all about, what concerns people and what the plans are for the future,’ says Dietz. Kirsten Voss, Project Manager Energieküste: ‘Three transmission system operators in one place, plus business development organisations, chambers of industry and commerce and more, were ideal for discussions and constructive dialogue.’

The 8th Infrastructure Forum Energieküste will take place on 13th November 2025 in Husum.

The participants in the panel discussion with Joschka Knuth:

Thorsten Dietz, Director Large Projects DC, TenneT
Dr Markus Doll, Head of Systems and Grid Operation, Federal Network Agency
Dr Benjamin Merkt, Head of Grid Technology, Schleswig-Holstein Netz GmbH
Dr Guido Austen, Managing Director, Westholstein development company
Thorben Schütt, District Administrator of Dithmarschen Kreis Dithmarschen

Exhibitors at the energy transition trade fair

Downloads

> Press release 7th Infrastructure Forum Energieküste
> Website Ministry for Energy Transition, Climate Protection, Environment and Nature