Multi-million Euro project awarded to EQOS Energie

TenneT TSO GmbH awards project worth around 35 million Euros for new 380-kV overhead line construction

EQOS Energie is implementing the overhead line project worth around 35 million Euros on behalf of TenneT TSO GmbH. This involves the construction of a 22.6-kilometre-long section as part of the approximately 140-kilometre-long 380-kV overhead line between Brunsbüttel and the Danish border in Schleswig Holstein. EQOS Energie will establish the second construction section between St. Michaelisdonn and Heide. Construction work starts this year and it will be completed through a cross-border cooperation between overhead line experts from Germany and Austria.

“I am delighted that TenneT has chosen our company for this future-oriented project”, says Eric Mendel, CEO of the EQOS Energie Group. “This demonstrates once again that our comprehensive expertise and the cross-border cooperation are sought-after on the market.” The line will be a new construction on a new line with the aim, amongst other things, of increasing the transport capacity between Germany and Denmark. Furthermore, it is urgently necessary for the transportation of the wind power generated on the west coast in the direction of Southern Germany. The existing power grid in Schleswig-Holstein has already reached its load limit due to the increasing supply feed of renewable energies.

A 110-kV line currently runs along the new 380-kV line, and they cross at five points. In order to maintain the 1-system operation of the 110-kV line, extensive provisional arrangements with field-installation cables and overhead line portals must be constructed at the cross-over points. A total of around 58 new mast sites will be built by EQOS Energie using 5,500 tonnes of mast steel and pulled over 22 kilometres of high-voltage cables. 57 old masts on the 110-kV line will then be disassembled.

The difficult ground conditions are a particular challenge when installing the masts at a depth of more than 20 metres. The masts are therefore mainly constructed in deep foundations. The accessibility of the sites is also restricted.