Scaffolding secures drivers: renovation of the high-voltage line in Gauting!

Scaffolding secures drivers: renovation of the high-voltage line in Gauting!

In the Dachau district, the network operator Tennet has begun the comprehensive renovation of the high-voltage line between Oberbrunn and Oberbachern. In the coming months, many drivers will have become aware of the construction work along the bypass road between Starnberg and Gilching. This is mainly due to the conspicuous scaffolding that was erected on both the left and right of State Road 2069.

The cables that are now being renovated originally date from the 1970s and, as Tennet spokesman Markus Lieberknecht explains, have a lifespan of around 100 years. After 50 years in operation, a general overhaul is now necessary to ensure the safety and reliability of the power supply. This renovation work is crucial for strengthening the network infrastructure, especially with regard to the current requirements of the energy transition. However, Lieberknecht continued, this does not mean that the current carrying capacity of the lines will be increased - a process that would require an extensive planning approval process and could take several years.

Details about the renovation

The current work has been underway since Monday, October 15, 2024 and will be carried out gradually. First, one side of the line from mast 1 in Oberbrunn to mast 53, which is located directly after crossing the A99, will be renovated. This phase is scheduled to be completed by February 2025. In the following period, from February to June 2025, the other side will be renovated. Tennet thus ensures that the power supply for the Munich region remains constant by only shutting down one side of the line for the work. The other side always remains operational.

Safety is the top priority in these measures. The scaffolding and additional nets used during the construction work prevent ropes from falling onto the road during the work and thus posing a danger to road users. These safety precautions entail speed restrictions - currently drivers are only allowed to drive past the construction sites at 50 km/h.

In the long term, the maintenance measures aim to renovate the entire line by March 2026 so that it can operate efficiently for another 40 to 50 years. Tennet, which is based in Bayreuth, is in charge of planning and executing this important renovation work. The connection between the two substations Oberbrunn and Oberbachern provides an output of 220/110 kV and has been in operation since the late 1970s.

Those responsible explain the need for these comprehensive measures as essential in order to meet the requirements of a changing energy landscape. The decision to renovate is a proactive measure to meet future challenges in the electricity supply and not to leave the infrastructure to chance.

The work will probably continue to take place at different locations for a certain period of time, which must also be coordinated with the planning of the shutdown windows. These must be determined well in advance in order not to endanger the security of supply in the region and to be able to guarantee a seamless power supply.

The upcoming issues are relevant because they demonstrate Tennet's willingness to invest in the maintenance and modernization of the energy infrastructure to meet the needs of the future. Further information can be found in an article from www.merkur.de.