Network Development Plan Electricity

Planning the extra-high voltage grid of the future

What will the German extra-high voltage grid look like in the future? How must it be structured in order to meet our climate target in the coming years? The central instrument for answering this question is the Network Development Plan Electricity (NDP), which is the basis for a secure electricity supply. The NDP is created and drafted by the four German transmission system operators 50Hertz, Amprion, TenneT and TransnetBW. 

They operate the extra-high voltage grid in Germany and are responsible for its expansion in the interests of a climate-neutral electricity supply. Following a public consultation process and an expert review, the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) finally publishes the NDP before the measures it contains incorporate into the Federal Requirements Plan Act.

NDP 2037/2045 (2023) and NDP 2037/2045 (2025)

BNetzA confirms 2nd draft

The Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) confirmed the second draft of the NDP 2037/2045 (2023) on March 1, 2024 following an intensive review and extensive public participation.

For the first time, the confirmation contains more measures than were planned by the TSOs in the second draft of the NDP 2037/2045 (2023). Further information and all relevant documents can be found here.

Current process step

Creation of draft Scenario Framework

A new NDP process cycle is commencing and the TSOs create various scenarios of what our electricity system could look like in the coming years. For this they collect information and data from many different institutions and process participants.

On 28 June 2024, the TSOs submitted their draft of the Scenario Framework for the NDP 2037/2045 (2025) to the BNetzA.

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Background

The power grid consists of complex technical facilities that are operated, maintained and expanded by experts. Take a closer look at the system that enables a secure supply of electricity in Germany. Learn how the extra-high voltage grid of the future is being planned, what advantages high voltage direct current transmission (HVDC) offers and which challenges are involved by the connection of offshore wind farms.

Participation

Public participation plays a central role in the development of the extra-high voltage grid. You have various opportunities to actively contribute with suggestions during the process of the Network Development Plan Electricity. As an individual or a non-governmental organisation (NGO), you have the opportunity to submit detailed comments regarding individual expansion projects or the entire NDP draft. 

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Note: This newsletter is published in German.

The transmission system operators

The TSOs plan and maintain the extra-high voltage grid and regulate grid operations. They contribute their expertise and experience towards ensuring the secure expansion of the grid and are thus responsible for the security and stability of the German power supply system. This means they must guarantee the uninterrupted exchange of electricity across all regions using their power lines and also ensure that generation and consumption levels are balanced at all times. Over the coming decades, the main task of the four TSOs will therefore be to establish an energy supply infrastructure for Germany that is fit for the future and equipped with up to date, efficient and environmentally friendly technology.

50Hertz Transmission

50Hertz operates the extra-high-voltage grid in northern and eastern Germany and is extending it to meet the needs of the energy transition. The 50Hertz grid area includes the federal states of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia as well as the city states of Berlin and Hamburg. In these regions, 50Hertz and its employees secure the electricity supply for 18 million people around the clock. 50Hertz is thus responsible for one of the largest electricity export regions in Europe and is leading in the integration of electricity from renewable energies.

From the Control Centre in Neuenhagen near Berlin, the grid is controlled and monitored. The company’s headquarter is in Berlin.

50Hertz is responsible for connecting the German offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea to the grid and even some Offshore-Windfarms in den North Sea. The first commercial offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea, EnBW Baltic 1, has been officially in operation since May 2011.

For further information, please visit www.50hertz.com

Amprion GmbH

From its headquarters in Dortmund, Amprion operates the extra-high voltage grid in seven German states – from the North Sea to the Alps on the border with Austria and Switzerland. Amprion transports electricity to around 29 million people and thus makes an important contribution to a stable and secure electricity supply in its grid area.

Due to its central location, Amprion performs important tasks for the integrated grid systems in Europe and also plays an important part beyond the borders of its own grid area: From its company locations in Dortmund and Brauweiler near Cologne, the company carries out vital tasks in coordinating Germany’s four control areas as well as in the field of international energy transport.

Amprion is preparing the way for the energy transition and driving forward the expansion of the grid. As part of this, several offshore wind farms in the North Sea are being connected to the transmission grid.

For further information, please visit www.amprion.net

TenneT TSO

As a leading European grid operator, TenneT is committed to providing a secure and reliable electricity supply – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. TenneT is the first cross-border transmission system operator to plan, build and operate a high and extra-high voltage grid in the Netherlands and large parts of Germany.

The German grid area mainly comprises the federal states of Bavaria, Bremen, Hesse, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein as well as parts of North Rhine-Westphalia. TenneT facilitates the European energy market through interconnectors to neighbouring countries. TenneT's employees ensure that more than 43 million people can rely on a stable electricity supply.

As one of the largest investors in the expansion of national and international onshore and offshore electricity grids on land and at sea, TenneT is driving energy transmission towards a climate-friendly energy system.

In Germany and the Netherlands, TenneT provides the connection capacity for offshore wind energy in the North Sea as a cross-border transmission system operator.

For further information, please visit www.tennet.eu

TransnetBW

TransnetBW GmbH operates the electricity transmission grid in Baden-Württemberg and thus secures the electricity supply in the region, in Germany and in Europe. Among TransnetBW's customers and partners are electricity traders, power plant and distribution grid operators in Germany and abroad.

Around 80 transformers connect the TransnetBW transmission grid to the distribution grids in Baden-Württemberg. Major international industrial enterprises and more than 11 million people in Baden-Württemberg are reliably supplied with electricity around the clock via these access points. As a result, TransnetBW secures the economic strength and quality of life in south-west Germany.

For further information, please visit www.transnetbw.de