PCI projects

European Projects of Common Interest (PCI)

The European Union has set ambitious targets in its 2050 Energy Roadmap. The Roadmap envisions long-term, sustainable decarbonisation without jeopardising security of supply, quality of life or the quality of Europe as a business location. The EU has also established a comprehensive funding programme for grid expansion in the knowledge that the electricity transport networks are not yet sufficiently prepared for such a fundamental transformation in generation structures. The funding programme defines and provides financing for around 100 Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) that are of primary significance in reaching the EU’s climate targets – above all the integration of renewables – and for energy security and integration of the internal electricity market. Targeted funding initiatives – such as improving and harmonising approval procedures and enabling alternative financing instruments – aim to ensure accelerated implementation of grid expansion projects. The following APG projects have been designated as Projects of Common Interest and can be found in the 5th Union List of Projects of Common Interest.

Salzburg line: St. Peter–Tauern (AT)

The construction of the 114 km-long 380-kV Salzburg line between the Salzburg and Tauern substations will represent a significant step in establishing high-performance connections from Austria’s main (pumped storage) power plant sites to the country’s load centres and metropolitan areas. In combination with APG’s “Germany line” project, the scheme will also create a high-capacity link to Germany via the St. Peter network node.

PCI No.: 3.1.2
TYNDP22 No.: TR 312

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Germany line: St. Peter (AT) –Isar (DE)

The 380-kV Germany line between St. Peter and the national border, which is being extended further up to the Isar substation in Germany in cooperation with TenneT GmbH, our partner TSO in Germany, will entail an increase in interconnection capacity to Germany. A high-performance connection capable of handling the flows from the renewable energy sources in Germany and Northern Europe to Austrian load centres and pumped storage power plants in the Alps will be essential in helping transform the (European) energy system as well as supplying domestic electricity consumers.

PCI No.: 3.1.1
TYNDP22 No.: TR 313

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Upgrade of the internal line between West Tyrol and Zell/Ziller

The West Tyrol substation is an important network node in APG’s transmission grid in western Austria. The Inn Valley axis that connects the two substations in Zell/Ziller and West Tyrol, continuing over the Arlberg mountain, along with the interconnecting lines to Germany and Switzerland make up APG’s transmission grid in western Austria. In the future, the Inn Valley axis will provide a high-performance connection to the planned 380-kV ring. The increase in capacity on the West Tyrol–Zell/Ziller line is an important factor in advancing the integration of renewables into the grid, enabling connections to pumped storage power plants and developing the market. Together with the 380-kV ring and its connections to the transmission grids of our partner TSOs in Europe, the high-capacity Inn Valley axis forms part of the APG target grid as well as the basis for future security of supply.

Basic data:

PCI No.: 3.1.4
TYNDP22 number: TR 1054
NDP No.: 14-3
Project operator: Austrian Power Grid AG
Project type: Reinforcement of an internal line
Implementation period: by 2029
Project region: Tyrol (Inn Valley)

Carinthia grid area

The energy market trends in Austria and Europe, potential for future pumped storage power plants as well as the massive expansion of renewable energy (including balancing and storage) and better support of the 110-kV grid operated by Kärnten Netz (KNG) all necessitate reinforcement of the transmission grid in Carinthia and the 380-kV ring connection in Austria. An upgrade to the grid in Carinthia will close the 380-kV ring in Austria, with all the associated advantages. Closing the 380-kV ring will ensure long-term security of supply in Carinthia and in southern Austria, as well as create a redundant connection between the renewable energy feed-in systems in eastern Austria (especially wind and solar power) and the load centres in the central Alps with their pumped storage power plants. Closing the 380-kV ring is essential for grid integration of the RES and achievement of the Austrian federal government’s climate and energy strategy. The general importance of the grid expansion is also stated in the Carinthian government programme 2023–2028.