More Power for the Energy Transition: Giant Transformer Arrives at the APG Substation in Southern Burgenland

Vienna - Rotenturm an der Pinka, August - On August 4, a large 380/110 kV transformer arrived at the Südburgenland substation (Rotenturm an der Pinka) of Austria’s transmission system operator Austrian Power Grid (APG). The 300-ton steel colossus will improve the power supply in the region and increase the feed-in capacity of wind and solar power at the site by 25 percent. This means that in the future, even more renewable energy that is not needed locally can be distributed and utilized throughout Austria via the APG grid. APG is investing around 2.5 million euros in 2024 in the installation of the transformer and the necessary adjustments at the plant.

From Lower Austria to Burgenland: transformer swap by means of impressive heavy-duty transport

  "APG's transformers have a long service life of 40-50 years and sometimes the 'giants' have to be relocated," says Roland Spreitzhofer, project manager at APG. This was the case with the transformer in question. It was previously stationed at the Dürnrohr substation (Lower Austria) and was now completely dismantled and prepared for transportation within around five weeks. Various other system components, such as the cooling system and switch cabinet, were also packed and made ready for shipment. 

  "From August 3 to 4, the large transformer was hauled to the Südburgenland substation by a special rail transport. On August 5, the 12-meter-long and almost five-meter-high transformer was unloaded and pulled onto its foundation millimeter by millimeter with the help of guide rails. This procedure alone took around 24 hours for the 300-ton colossus," reports Spreitzhofer. 

25 percent more feed-in capacity for climate-friendly energy

Spreitzhofer, who has been managing projects in APG substations since 2022, on the next steps: "Now the transformer has to be set up at its new site, which will take around five to six weeks. Before its scheduled start of operation in November, the transformer will undergo a detailed inspection, after which it will finally be connected to the grid with just one mouse click." From then on, the converter, as transformers are also called, will be able to convert the voltage of the electricity from the regional electricity grid of 110 kilovolts (kV) to 380 kilovolts so that it can be fed into the trans-regional APG grid. "It is the link between the two grid levels, so to speak, which facilitates the distribution of surplus wind and solar power that is not needed in the region throughout Austria," says the project manager.

Previously, two 380/110 kV transformers with a capacity of 200 megavolt amperes (MVA) each were installed at the Südburgenland substation. In the future, there will be one 200 MVA transformer plus another with 300 MVA. This will increase the feed-in capacity at the site by 25 percent and significantly improve the integration of renewables in the province of Burgenland. Incidentally, the second 200 MVA transformer is far from obsolete: APG is currently building a new substation in Matrei in East Tyrol, which will require a transformer with exactly this capacity - so the Burgenland transformer will soon be relocated to Tyrol. The very complex journey towards the west will take place in spring 2025 and make the transformer swap complete.

Total investment in Burgenland: 480 million euros

Christoph Schuh, company spokesperson for APG: "APG is investing around EUR 480 million in strengthening and expanding the grid infrastructure in Burgenland by 2034, which is a significant contribution to achieving the energy transition and the electrification of businesses, industry, and society. Across Austria, we will invest around nine billion euros over the same period to achieve Austria's climate and energy targets."

About Austrian Power Grid (APG)

As independent transmission system operator Austrian Power Grid (APG) is in charge of ensuring the security of the 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 and future-oriented industrial and business location and place to live. The APG grid totals a length of about 3,500 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 900 specialists. 67 substations are distributed all over Austria and the majority is operated remotely from APG’s control center in Vienna’s 10^th district. Thanks to our committed employees Austria had a security of supply of 99.99 percent also in 2023 and thus ranks among the top countries worldwide. Our investments of 445 million euros in 2024 (2023: 490 million euros, 2022: 370 million euros) are a motor for the Austrian economy and a crucial factor in reaching Austria’s climate and energy targets. Until 2034 APG will invest a total of approximately 9 billion euros in grid expansion and renovation projects.