Claude Turmes, Minister for Energy and Spatial Planning; Credit: SIP / Yves Kortum

Luxembourg's Ministry for Energy and Spatial Planning has announced the modernisation of the Grand Duchy's electricity connection to the German electrical grid.

Since 1960, Luxembourg's main electricity supply has been via a 220 kV double electric line between Germany and the transmission substation in Heisdorf, and then through the Alzette valley to the Bertrange substation.

Creos Luxembourg S.A., in its role of electricity transmission network operator, is studying the modernisation of this vital interconnection connecting Luxembourg to Germany as part of its obligations to guarantee the secure supply of electrical energy to end customers, resulting from the amended law of 1 August 2007 relating to the organisation of the electricity market.

In the process of developing the modernisation project for this interconnection, Creos informed the Energy Minister of this project, which should guarantee supply beyond 2030. The analyses that led to the development of this project are based on the “Scenario Report 2040” published by Creos in 2018; Creos is in the process of updating its “Scenario Report 2040” analysis which examines the security of supply situation in Luxembourg by 2040. This strategy will be made public and consulted in autumn 2020.

The detailed project for the modernisation of the connection with Germany must be subject to authorisation procedures, including an environmental impact assessment (EIA). The EIA will be the subject of a public inquiry open to all interested. As part of this assessment, different variants and alternatives should be explored. The final authorisations required for the project can only be taken after the adoption of the final conclusions of the assessment procedures.

Luxembourg's Energy Minister stressed that the importance of this modernisation project respecting all the European and national procedures required in terms of transparency, consultation and impact. The project should also ensure Luxembourg's security of supply in the medium and long term, increase the distances of high voltage lines from residential houses and lead to the consequent dismantling of existing high voltage lines, in particular in the Alzette valley.