Germanys Amprion says there is resolve to speed power grid expansion

div classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodivpFRANKFURT Reuters – German power grid firm Amprion on Wednesday set out completion times for planned network expansion projects, saying resolve to cut planning and construction times will ensure the timely transport of more renewable electricity to consumers.

pAmprion, 25owned by utility RWE and one of four highvoltage power grids, said milestone projects to bring power from the windy north to the industrial south and west are being sped up by a climate protection agenda and more acceptance by citizens.pdivdivdiv classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodiv

“I am optimistic for quick approvals,” said chief executive HansJuergen Brick at a web conference.

“A lot is possible when everyone participates in the goal to make the energy transition safe.”

Germany‘s government coalition includes a Green Party Economy Minister while war in Ukraine this year has underscored the need for energy independence from Russia, which will be accelerated by the country’s move towards lowcarbon energy, Brick added.p

Amprions key project ANord, a 2 gigawatt GW cable from the North Sea to the Rhineland will start up in 2027 and two offshore wind connections, BorWin4 and DolWin4 of 2 GW each, will be ready in 202829, the company said.p

Corridor B, another 4 GW line from the North to the western Ruhr region, will be ready by 2030, transporting enough green power to replace five big coal generation plants.p

Germany has slimmed planning authorities and merged tasks to ensure approvals within two years, and constructions are taking a maximum of between two and 4 years, Brick said, instead of previously 10 years or more.p

Two thirds of Amprions currently planned 3,900 new km of lines are within approval processes, the remainder are ready or near completion, in internal planning, or being built.p

Amprion operates 12,000 km of grids, which transmit power equivalent to 82 of Germanys traded wholesale volume.p

Of 12 billion euros 12.63 billion of investments planned over the next five years, 1.2 billion will be made this year.p

1 0.9498 eurosp

pp Reporting by Vera Eckert, editing by Elaine Hardcastlep

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