APG Weinviertel Line: Dismantling and Deconstruction Work of Old Line Completed

With the start of operation of the new Weinviertel line in the summer of 2022, a milestone has been reached for the sustainable and secure supply of electricity in the region of Lower Austria, but also for the whole of Austria. In the future, up to 3,000 megawatts of renewable energy from Lower Austria will be fed into APG's trans-regional grid and made available throughout Austria. This connected power corresponds to that of eight hydropower plants on the Danube. The Weinviertel line is therefore essential for the success of the energy transition in terms of security of supply and the increasing electrification of businesses, industry and society.

Dismantling and deconstruction work completed

Immediately after the start of operation, efforts to dismantle the old Weinviertel line were started. As fast as possible the pylons, conductor cables and finally the pylon foundations were disassembled and transported away (partly by helicopter). At the end of March 2022 - almost exactly four years after the construction decision for the new Weinviertel line was issued (March 4, 2019) - the dismantling work of the former existing line could be completed.

"In total, we dismantled 254 pylons, which altogether comprised about 2,700 tons of steel including foundations and about 468 kilometers of conductor cables with a total weight of about 1,000 tons," says APG project manager Andreas Pischel about the dimensions of the deconstruction work. However, the old line originally consisted of 255 pylons. "One pylon, on the site of APG's Bisamberg substation, was left standing and will be used for training purposes in the future," explains Pischel. Thanks to optimized planning, the new Weinviertel line comprises 53 pylons and 15 kilometers line length less than the former existing line. In addition, the protection of nature-sensitive zones could be improved.

Further work, such as the restoration of paths that were used as construction roads during the construction phase of the new Weinviertel line, as well as the dismantling and deconstruction of the construction camps in all of the three construction lots, has also been completed.

At the end of April, the completion certificate was issued by the Lower Austrian provincial government. It validates that the project was implemented abiding by the authorized layout and construction decision.

"In addition to increasing the security of supply, the new Weinviertel line is essential for the success of the energy transition. It increases the potential for the integration of renewable energies, makes a significant contribution to achieving Austria's climate and energy targets and creates sustainable development opportunities for the economy, society and tourism in the region. The investment in the Weinviertel line is part of APG's investment program until 2032 which envisages 3.5 billion euros for the success of a supply-secure transformation of the energy system," emphasizes Christoph Schuh, company spokesperson of APG.

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.