POWERING THE FUTURE
≈ €651 billion
Investment required for expansion by 2045
≈37,000 km
Length of transmission network (220/380 kV)
≈1.2 million km
Length of distribution network (end consumers)
Facts on electricity network expansion
Goals of the grid development plan until 2045
- approx. 4,800 km
of new high-voltage lines constructed - approx. 2,500 km
of existing lines enhanced - approx. 400 GW
of photovoltaic capacity created - approx. 160 GW
of onshore wind energy established - approx. 80 GW
of hydrogen transport capacity planned
Germany currently has over 90 GW of power plant capacity
HVDC expansion in Germany
- SuedLink (±525 kV)
- SuedOstLink (±525 kV)
- SuedOstLink + (±525 kV)
- A-Nord & Ultranet (±380 kV, ±525 kV)
- Rhein-Main-Link (±525 kV)
- NeuConnect (±525 kV, undersea cable)
- Tarchon (±525 kV, undersea cable)
4 Transmission system operators
- 50Hertz
- Amprion
- TenneT
- TransnetBW
Responsibility for
the infrastructure required by the energy transition
(from left to right) Michael Beckmann (Regional Director North), Torsten Retzlaff (Company Director) and Wolfgang Eckstaller (Regional Director South) are together overseeing Inros Lackner’s contribution to the ongoing development of Germany’s electricity grid. Expanding the infrastructure presents technical, organisational and legal challenges. This makes close collaboration among all stakeholders – grid operators, environmental and technical planners, and other partners – all the more crucial.
Grid Expansion – Engineering Expertise and Planning Processes
Energy generation
Planning for the expansion of renewable energy infrastructure
Behind every kilowatt-hour generated from renewable energy sources lies a sophisticated interplay of engineering expertise, science and precision technology – whether on the high seas in stormy winds or deep underground. Quiet, often inconspicuous, but indispensable for the “energy transition”.
Planning and design services for:
- Offshore wind farms
- Hydropower plants
- Biogas facilities
Transmission
Route and environmental planning, project management
For the planning of power transmission links, our engineers and specialist planners create detailed maps, analyse soil conditions, assess heat dissipation and cable protection systems, prepare technical reports and environmental impact assessments, and coordinate all the involved parties – from authorities to local residents.
Inros Lackner is working on the SuedLink, SuedOstLink, and SuedOstLink+ HVDC transmission link projects, providing various planning and project management services as part of a joint venture.
Distribution
Planning for substations
They provide connection points for power cables of different voltages and facilitate the safe transport of electrical energy with minimal losses over long distances to consumers. Numerous factors must be considered during the planning process: approval procedures, environmental and nature conservation regulations, oil spill protection and fire-fighting water plans (especially to protect contamination of local nature), varying soil conditions and construction processes, as well as coordination with local authorities, grid operators and, where applicable, residents.
Example projects:
- Güstrow Substation
- Wolmirstedt Substation
- Lubmin Substation
- SuedLink Substation in Baden-Württemberg
Use
Planning for households, industry, transportation and commerce
The use of electricity is the final – and crucial – stage in the energy value chain. Every kilowatt-hour that is transported by power lines, transformed in substations and distributed via power networks fulfils its intended purpose when it is actually used. In households, it provides energy for heating, lighting and everyday digital applications. Data centres, the backbone of the digital economy, also require enormous amounts of electricity – continuously and at high power consumption rates.
Applications:
- Technical building systems
- Onshore power supply systems and charging parks
- Electromobility
Energy generation
Wind, sun, hydrogen
Engineers are indispensable for the energy transition – they bridge the gap between vision and practical implementation. Even in the early development stages they contribute their expertise to making new ideas and solutions feasible. Whether wind power, solar energy, hydrogen or storage technology – they make solutions more efficient and sustainable. During implementation, they ensure that concepts are turned into functioning systems.
Transport – Transmission lines for renewable energies
Efficient Power Infrastructure
Bottlenecks in the transmission and distribution networks already mean that electricity from wind or solar power cannot always be fully utilised because the grid is overloaded. The 110 kV transmission network is particularly critical, already reaching its limits in many places. Therefore, grid development must be accelerated to efficiently accommodate the growing amount of electricity generated and transport it over long distances. Offshore wind farms are increasingly being connected via high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission lines, typically ±525 kV.
Our Services
Transporting electricity safely
Cable route planning
Energy and transport infrastructure
Environmental planning
Dynamic management, clear coordination
Project management
Distribution
Power grid and consumers
Substations are used to connect sections of a power grid that are at different voltage levels, and facilitate the safe, low-loss transmission of electrical energy over long distances to consumers. Planning and constructing a new substation involves far more than electrical engineering.
