50Hertz has completed the Uckermark line, a major expansion of Germany’s transmission grid between Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Brandenburg, aimed at supporting the country’s energy transition. The newly commissioned 380 kV overhead lines are expected to triple the electricity transport capacity between these regions, alleviating grid bottlenecks and reducing electricity costs for consumers by up to €230 million annually.
Stefan Kapferer, Chairman of the Management Board of 50Hertz, expressed his satisfaction with the milestone: “At 50Hertz, we are of course happy about every new power line that goes online in our control area – but especially about the Uckermark line. The new overhead line between Pasewalk and Neuenhagen reduces the curtailment of wind turbines and photovoltaic systems by up to one billion kilowatt hours per year.”
The Uckermark line, which includes two separate projects—the 380 kV Bertikow-Pasewalk line and the Neuenhagen-Bertikow-Vierraden-Krajnik extra-high voltage line—spans approximately 150 kilometers. The project aims to increase the integration of renewable energy, particularly wind and solar power, into the grid, which is crucial as Germany increases its reliance on renewable sources.
Michael Kellner, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, highlighted the significance of the line for both regional and international energy supply: “The commissioning of the Uckermark line has been a long time coming. In the meantime, the share of renewable energies has continued to rise. Feeding solar and wind power safely into the grid is much easier with the new overhead line. This strengthens the energy supply in the region and far beyond.”
Kellner also noted that the line enhances cross-border electricity exchange between Germany and Poland, contributing to greater security of supply in both nations. “The Uckermark line also creates a high-performance connection between the German and Polish electricity markets, thus increasing security of supply in both countries. The project is therefore an important building block on the way to a secure, affordable, and environmentally friendly energy supply and for the development of Germany as a business location.”
The Uckermark line is the first project in Germany to be approved by the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) under the Grid Expansion Acceleration Act Transmission Grid (NABEG). This legislation aims to speed up the expansion of energy infrastructure to meet the country’s climate protection goals and ensure a stable and sustainable energy system.
With this new addition, 50Hertz aims to ensure a more reliable and cleaner energy supply, supporting both Germany’s climate targets and the broader European transition to renewable energy.
