To ensure the secure supply To ensure the secure supply of electricity in the region and throughout Austria for generations to come, the 380 kV Steiermark line is being made fit for the future by the start of operation of the third sub-conductor, which has already been installed since the Steiermark line started operation. From an energy industry perspective the capacity of the third sub-conductor is necessary due to the increasing electrification, current climate protection targets and the increasing expansion of renewable energies. With the resulting increase in capacity, APG is also ensuring a better security of supply all over Austria and an improved feed-in of renewable energy in the region, such as wind power or solar energy from photovoltaic systems.
No construction measures necessary
The project envisages the start of electricity flow through the third sub-conductor of the line, which was already installed during construction, and upgrading work at the substations in Kainachtal, Oststeiermark, Südburgenland and Wien Südost due to the higher capacity that the Steiermark line will provide in the future.
"The start of operation of the third sub-conductor is a mere operational change that needs to be implemented purely legally and does not require any construction work. The existing route length, the number of pylons and the voltage level remain unchanged. There will also be no change in the rope arrangement," says Stefanie Eisenhuber, project manager at APG, explaining the project plan.
Procedure according to the Austrian High Voltage Lines Act (Starkstromwegegesetz, StWG)
Since the 380 kV Steiermark line has already undergone an EIA procedure and was approved in terms of construction with three sub-conductors, but only with two sub-conductors in terms of operation, only the use of the third sub-conductor for electricity transport needs to be approved in a new procedure. This is merely an extension in operational terms, which requires approval under the Austrian High Voltage Lines Act (StWG). At the end of December 2022, the planned start of operation of the third sub-conductor was submitted to the competent authority, the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK).
The StWG authority (BMK) has now set June 5 as date for the oral StWG hearing (which will take place as online forum), after the project documents were available for public inspection at the relevant communities for a period of six weeks prior to the hearing (this was publicly announced in advance by an edict of the BMK).
About Austrian Power Grid (APG)
As independent transmission system operator Austrian Power Grid (APG) is in charge of ensuring the security of electricity supply in Austria. With our high-performance and digital electricity infrastructure and the use of state-of-the-art technologies we integrate renewable energies, we are the platform for the electricity market, and we provide access to reasonably priced electricity for Austria’s consumers and thus create the basis for Austria as supply-secure industrial and business location and place to live. The APG grid totals a length of about 3,400 km and is operated, maintained and continuously adapted to the increasing challenges of the electrification of businesses, industry and society by a team of approximately 733 specialists. Also in 2022 Austria had a security of supply of 99.99 percent and thus ranks among the top countries worldwide. Our investments of 490 million euros in 2023 (2022: 370 million euros) are a motor for the Austrian economy and a crucial factor in reaching Austria’s climate and energy targets. Until 2032 APG will invest a total of approximately 3.5 billion euros in grid expansion and renovation projects, which amounts to approximately 19 percent of the total of 18 billion euros which the energy industry will invest in the grid infrastructure over the next ten years.
Press contact
Christoph Schuh
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