Network Development Plan 2022

The Network Development Plan 2022 is the first to be produced by the four transmission system operators in accordance with the provisions of the German Energy Industry Act as amended in August 2011, thus fulfilling their legal mandate. It highlights which measures for the necessary optimisation, development and expansion of the German extra-high voltage grid for the years 2022 and 2032 are required in order to ensure a safe and reliable network operation.

In light of the decision made in 2011 to phase out all nuclear energy and increase the supply of energy from renewable sources as part of the turnaround in German energy policy, the German transmission network must be made ready to handle the new demands associated with these changes. Since 2012, the Network Development Plan (NDP) has formed the basis for the needs-based planning of the onshore transmission network.

The four transmission system operators published the first draft of the Network Development Plan 2022 on 30 May 2012. Between 30 May and 10 July, the general public were given the opportunity to submit their responses to this first draft. The contributions from the consultation process were then incorporated into the second draft of the Network Development Plan 2022. The revised draft of the Network Development Plan was submitted to the German Federal Network Agency on 15 August 2012 and approved by the Federal Network Agency on 26 November 2012.