Wedoany.com Report-Jul. 22, Austrian construction firm STRABAG has been awarded a contract by TenneT TSO to carry out civil engineering works on a 68km stretch of the SuedLink direct-current transmission line, situated north of Hanover, Germany. This segment, referred to as section B1, connects the towns of Scheeßel and Schwarmstedt, passing through the Rothenburg and Heidekreis districts in Lower Saxony.
B1 links Scheeßel and Schwarmstedt, passing through the Rothenburg and Heidekreis districts in Lower Saxony.
The project is a key component of Germany’s broader initiative to expand its national transmission network and support the distribution of renewable energy to southern regions of the country. SuedLink, alongside SuedOstLink, is one of the central infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing grid stability and advancing the energy transition. STRABAG has previously been involved in various sections of both transmission lines.
Construction on section B1 is expected to start later this year, subject to the outcome of the pending planning approval. Preliminary works are scheduled to begin in September, focusing on the Aller river undercrossing near Walsrode. This task will be completed using horizontal directional drilling (HDD), a method that enables the installation of cables beneath surface obstacles without open excavation, minimizing environmental and traffic impact.
The full SuedLink project covers around 700km, running from Brunsbüttel and Wilster in the north to Großgartach near Heilbronn and Bergrheinfeld/West in the south. TenneT is responsible for the northern part of the line, while TransnetBW manages the southern section. With the award of this contract to STRABAG for the Lower Saxony segment, all 15 SuedLink sections have now been contracted.
Standard construction for transmission lines typically uses the open trench method, involving digging, laying cables, and refilling the trench. However, in areas with geographical or infrastructural challenges, methods like HDD are employed to reduce surface disruption and maintain continuity across roads, rivers, or other obstacles.
In a related development, STRABAG secured a contract from TransnetBW in late 2024 to construct a 34.5km segment of the SuedLink line in Thuringia. This portion, stretching from Gerstungen to Breitungen, is located south of Eisenach and involves extensive civil engineering tasks.
STRABAG’s ongoing participation in Germany’s major energy infrastructure projects highlights its role in supporting the transition to a more sustainable and reliable energy grid. The company’s experience in handling complex construction tasks using both traditional and advanced techniques contributes to the timely and efficient progress of the SuedLink project.
