‘Milestone in the German energy transition’, 'game changer for our energy supply', 'important axis in the climate-neutral grid of the future' - when people talk about SuedLink, they like to use superlatives. After many years of planning and approval, two high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission lines are to transport over 700 kilometres of green electricity from 2028. Wind power from the Energieküste and hydropower from Norway to where it is urgently needed: To the south of Germany. SuedLink consists of a total of two projects and is a joint project between TenneT and TransnetBW. Line 1 runs from Brunsbüttel to Großgartach/Leingarten in Baden-Württemberg, line 2 from Wilster to Bergrheinfeld in Bavaria. This makes Schleswig-Holstein both the source and the starting point of SuedLink or, in the words of Joschka Knuth, State Secretary Energy Transition and Climate Protection Schleswig-Holstein: ‘The north produces it, the whole country needs it: we are the land of wind power!’ And indeed, thanks to two gigawatts of transmission capacity per line, SuedLink will in future be able to transport the output of four nuclear power plants and supply around ten million households with electricity. Investment volume: ten billion euros.

Man of conviction when it comes to sustainability
So far, so good. But it goes without saying that a project of this magnitude also raises concerns. Heinrich Laun, who is responsible for communications for the SuedLink planning approval sections A1 to A3 at grid operator TenneT, is one person who is fully convinced of the benefits and necessity of the project. TenneT is responsible for the northern section of the SuedLink route and the converters in Schleswig-Holstein and Bavaria. Mr Laun, what makes you so committed to SuedLink? ‘In order to shape the energy transition and achieve Germany's climate protection targets, we need to make our electricity grid fit for a higher proportion of renewable energies. To do this, we need projects like SuedLink. I have been supporting the project for eight years, so I am delighted that the construction phase has now started and that we can take another important step towards a sustainable and successful energy transition.’

Community project: energy transition for participation
However, Heinrich Laun is certain that a project like SuedLink will be difficult without the backing of the population. ‘We have to jointly get involved in the energy transition and switch to sustainable energy. Dialogue with all those affected, including with regard to SuedLink, is therefore essential!’ No sooner said than done - as the history of SuedLink shows: each of the 15 construction sections has undergone its own planning approval procedure with public participation. 

Over the course of many years, the responsible grid operators TenneT and TransnetBW have narrowed the route from a 1,000 metre wide corridor to a route that is precisely aligned with the properties. The publicly accessible online tool WebGIS accurately depicted all data as well as the corridor and route in a map. During the planning phase, the public had the opportunity to submit comments and remarks online. 

Elbe Information Centre: tunnel view with VR glasses 
The 15 sections of SuedLink have been gradually moving into the construction phase since the summer of 2023. The planning approval section A2 near Wewelsfleth kicked off on 11 September 2023. Here, SuedLink crosses under the Elbe with an approximately five-kilometre-long tunnel to Lower Saxony near Wischhafen. The project, also known as ElbX, is one of the largest special structures for SuedLink. On 24 April, TenneT opened the Elbe Information Centre at the starting point of ElbX, where virtual and interactive elements show the construction process. For example, visitors can explore the tunnel shaft with VR glasses. TenneT also plans to open an adventure trail here in the summer, offering direct views of the major construction site. ‘With the adventure trail and the information centre, we are also creating long-term places of exchange on the Energieküste. People will be able to see and understand exactly what is happening around them. This is the only way a project of this magnitude can work,’ says Heinrich Laun, summarising the project once again.