New power line in Gifhorn: Citizen dialogue secures the future of energy!

New power line in Gifhorn: Citizen dialogue secures the future of energy!

Something is happening in the Gifhorn district when it comes to energy supply! Given the increasing proportion of electricity-generating facilities, there is an urgent need for greater electricity transport capacity. That's why LandE, the parent company of LSW, is planning to modernize a 22 kilometer long 110 kilovolt overhead line between Oerrel and Gamsen. This measure is necessary not only to meet growing demand, but also to direct electricity from renewable energies to where it is urgently needed - in the southern parts of the country, where many large industrial consumers are located.

As theAZ Onlinereported that the existing lines will be dismantled after the new route is completed. As part of a citizens' dialogue that takes place in the Wesendorfer Schützenhaus, residents have the opportunity to find out more and clarify their questions. The LSW offers partitions and contact persons for discussions in order to create transparency and prevent unnecessary objections. Because one thing is clear: change needs approval, and that is particularly important in energy policy.

Technical details of the new route

The new route will require some structural adjustments. The masts will be increased from 22 to 40 meters, while the number of masts will be reduced from 105 to around 63. The route also goes around Wesendorf in order to take into account the distances to residential areas and agricultural use. The substations in Gamsen and Oerrel are also on the plan, supplemented by the construction of a new substation in Wesendorf. The total costs of the measure amount to around 50 million euros, which will be allocated to network fees. This ensures long-term refinancing by consumers.

The plan stipulates that detailed planning will begin in the first quarter of 2025, that the application should be submitted by the end of 2025 and that a planning approval decision is expected in 2026. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027.

Energy future and network expansion

The challenges of the growing share of renewable energies should not be underestimated: Conventional power plants were primarily built close to consumption, which means that the electricity from large producers usually only flowed in one direction. This picture has changed with the increase in decentralized energy generation systems, especially from wind and solar energy. The transmission networks therefore urgently need to be expanded in order to ensure the desired capacities in the long term. The current network development planof the Federal Environment Agencystates that adjustments such as higher voltage levels and new electrical circuits are necessary by 2045 in order to achieve climate goals.

But it's not just the physical expansion of the lines that is required; Intelligent solutions such as smart meters and new network management systems also find their place in the discussion. This also includes the integration of electric cars, which represent both a challenge and an opportunity for grid stability. With vehicle-to-grid technology, they can potentially contribute to the stability of the power grid.

The importance of network expansion for the energy transition is also reflected in the increasing capacity for battery storage. Although these are not the sole solution, they can help ensure flexibility in the energy system. However, the expansion must always be in line with the necessary environmental protection measures and social acceptance.

The new power line through the Gifhorn district is a small but important step towards a stable and sustainable energy future that meets the requirements of climate protection. The process has only just begun and citizens' suggestions are extremely important in finding a common path forward.