The job of the electricity grid has changed drastically over the past few years. It used to be that electricity was generated close to where it was consumed, and it was not necessary to transport it over long distances. In the meantime, large quantities of wind energy as well as electricity from the new power plants close to the coast have to be transported from low-consumption regions over long distances to the high-consumption regions in the southern and western parts of Germany. European-wide trade with electricity is also increasing more and more. The electricity grid must be urgently expanded in order to grow along with the demands placed on it.

transpower is legally required to avoid transport bottlenecks through prompt expansion of the grid. Simply due to the strong growth of wind energy plants, around 850 km of new maximum voltage lines will be required across Germany by 2015 (Source: dena network study).To make sure that further development of wind energy utilisation becomes reality, transpower is working flat out to obtain approvals for the new lines. The plans are being pushed ahead in close dialogue with all involved parties.