New power link to Italy officially in operation - a milestone for the energy transition

Nauders (Tyrol) - Vienna, June 6, 2024: The new power line between Austria and Italy (Passo di Resia line) and the new Nauders substation (Tyrol) are starting full operation as planned. At the invitation of Austrian Power Grid (APG), Tyrol's Deputy Governor Josef Geisler, Maria Rosaria Guarniere, Director of Technology and Transmission Asset Realization TERNA, Erich Entstrasser, CEO TIWAG and member of the APG Supervisory Board, and APG managing directors Gerhard Christiner and Thomas Karall attended today's inauguration ceremony in Nauders.

The first 220-kilovolt high-voltage line between Tyrol and Alto Adige runs from the new APG substation in Nauders to the TERNA substation Glorenza in Italy. Over a distance of around 27 kilometers, the Passo di Resia line improves the power supply in the Austrian-Italian border region. As part of APG's high-voltage grid, it also contributes significantly to facilitating the energy transition in Austria without jeopardizing the security of supply. On the way to a climate-friendly energy future, however, the start of operation of the new power link marks an important milestone, particularly at a European level: a significantly increased transmission capacity of up to 300 megawatts (MW) is now available for the international exchange of predominantly sustainable electricity from renewable energy sources. This connected load roughly comes up to twice the capacity of the central Innsbruck area. Developed as a joint project between the two grid operators, the project was completed within a construction period of 3.5 years. APG invested around 90 million euros in the new substation site in Nauders and the 1.2 km long underground cable system on the Austrian side. A further 80 million euros were invested on the Italian side.

Secure power supply in the region, throughout Austria and Europe

Deputy Governor of Tyrol Josef Geisler emphasized the importance of efficient infrastructure for a secure power supply: "For a successful energy transition in Tyrol, in Austria, and in Europe, we need two things above all, in addition to renewable energy from domestic sources: energy storage facilities and high-capacity power grids, also across borders. With the new Passo die Resia line, we are taking another major step towards a renewable energy future that will make us independent of fossil fuels. The expansion of renewable energies, especially from wind and solar power, has to go hand in hand with the expansion of energy storage systems such as pumped hydroelectric power plants and grid expansion measures. This will ensure grid stability and security of supply and make us independent of autocratic systems."

As a key player in the energy industry, APG is paving the way for Austria's energy transition with its electricity infrastructure. APG’s Chief Technical Officer Gerhard Christiner on the systemic effects of this transformation: "The intensive use of hydropower in western Austria and the planned further expansion of wind power and photovoltaic systems in Italy and other European countries will lead to an increased exchange of electricity between all countries in the Alpine region. To successfully handle this, new line and substation capacities are required. Such capacities are particularly important to make sustainable electricity available to all consumers. The lack of important power lines has cost grid customers an average of 121 million euros over the past five years - every year! I am therefore extremely pleased to be able to celebrate the start of operation of the Passo die Resia line and the Nauders substation today. Projects like these are essential building blocks for the success of the energy transition and the sustainable electrification of businesses, industry, and society in Tyrol and throughout Austria. Implementing our 9 billion euro investment program to fortify the domestic electricity supply by 2034 is therefore the order of the day."

In addition, APG's planned construction measures are a real booster for the Austrian economy, said APG’s Chief Financial Officer Thomas Karall: "APG has invested around EUR 90 million in the new Nauders site and the Passo di Resia line over the past 3.5 years. A further EUR 670 million for the reinforcement of existing lines and substations as well as the construction of new substations will follow over the next 10 years in Tyrol as part of our EUR 9 billion investment program up to 2034, which will have enormous economic effects. A recent ECONOMICA study shows that this will secure more than 90,000 annual jobs in Austria and generate around EUR 6.6 billion in gross value added – EUR 637 million in the province of Tyrol alone. To realize our construction projects on time, we urgently need accelerated approval procedures as well as a comprehensive systemic planning approach in the fields of grid expansion and modernization, storage, reserves, production, and digital platform technologies. The necessary legal framework conditions – the Renewable Expansion Acceleration Act (EABG) and the new Electricity Industry Act (ElWG) - must finally be put in place."

Maria Rosaria Guarniere, Director of Technology and Transmission Asset Realization at TERNA, underlined the importance of international grid connections: "This project is an important milestone on the way to market integration, efficient electricity exchange in the border region and the integration of renewable energy sources. The ultimate goal is an increasingly interconnected electricity system that can live up to the requirements of the highest safety and quality. The new 220kV high-voltage line with alternating current and underground cable will create a strong electricity grid, particularly in the historically poorly connected border region between Italy and Austria." 

Erich Entstrasser, CEO of TIWAG: "Following the start of operation of the Brenner line in 2021, the new power connection across the Passo di Resia is the next important milestone for the security of electricity supply in Tyrol. With its ongoing investments in the electricity grid, APG is an important driver of the energy transition, which cannot succeed in the coming years if not all grid operators in Austria commit to expanding their grids."

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 3,400 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 850 specialists. 67 substations are distributed all over Austria and the majority is operated remotely from APG’s control center in Vienna’s 10th 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 9 Milliarden Euro in den Netzaus- und Umbau investieren.