Southern Burgenland - Vienna Southeast 380 kV line (Burgenland line)

The Kainach Valley – Vienna Southeast 380 kV line was commissioned in 1999 in a section of the Southern Burgenland – Vienna Southeast transformer stations (hereafter referred to as: the "Burgenland line"). The pylons of the Burgenland line were structurally sized for three sub-conductors (bundle of 3) per phase and per system.

In the original construction licensing procedures concerning the legalities of the high-voltage current path, two sub-conductors (bundle of 2) were submitted for approval per phase and per system since the grid configuration at the time and the grid technology, operational requirements merely needed the bundle of 2.

The third sub-conductor is now being installed in order to complete things in terms of construction, grid technology and operations. The lines carried in the individual sections (110 kV Rotenturm - St. Martin line and the 220 kV Ternitz – Vienna Southeast lines) are not affected by the assembly.

Background

Since the time of commissioning, the European power grid operators have faced significantly increasing challenges: The EU has declared the expansion of renewable energies to a European topic of paramount importance (20-20-20 goals); Austria has also set itself very ambitious targets in this area. Together with the massive expansion of renewable energies and the impacts from market liberalisation, the European power grid operators are facing enormous power flows.

The Burgenland and Styria line will therefore not only have great importance for Austrian supply security in future, but also represent a key prerequisite for the integration of the increasing amounts of renewable energies – and, hence, the required massive expansion of the corresponding electricity generation.

The Burgenland line was commissioned in 1999 and was the first section of the closure in the gap of the 380 kV ring that was so vital for the supply security in the East of Austria. 2009 saw the closing of the 380 kV ring with the commissioning of the Styria line. The supply security in East and South Austria can therefore be guaranteed in the long-term.

Project status