New info center ensures even more transparency and dialogue in the implementation of the Netzraum Kärnten pipeline construction project

Around 70 decision-makers from politics, business and the municipalities accepted the invitation from APG and Kärnten Netz to Lakeside Park in Klagenfurt on the occasion of the opening of the information center for the 380 kV and 110 kV line construction project Netzraum Kärnten.

The host and project manager Wolfgang Hafner welcomed the guests: "I am delighted that there is so much interest in our Netzraum Kärnten project. The Infocenter will act as a central point of contact for coordination, planning and communication relating to this project of the century. With the new Infocenter, we are adding another important element to our comprehensive information and dialogue channels."

Infocenter as a multimedia hub for the Netzraum Kärnten project

The Infocenter sees itself as a multimedia information hub that offers interested citizens, stakeholders and representatives from politics and business a transparent, easily accessible insight into all relevant aspects of the project. From December 1, the Infocenter will be available to the public. Appointments can then be booked via the Infoportal www.netzraumkaernten.at.

Visitors can expect a comprehensive range of offers:

• guided tours through the permanent exhibition
• continuously updated content on the progress of the project
• detailed presentation of the route and the current planning status
• . planning status
• Information on transmission technologies
• Content on ecological and human medical issues as well as on all relevant environmental aspects
• Insight into the importance of the project for a modern, resilient energy system
• Information on the supra-regional transmission grid and the importance of the 380 kV ring closure

"With the new Infocenter, APG and Kärnten Netz are strengthening the dialog with the population and providing insights into the diverse technical, ecological and social dimensions of an infrastructure project of this magnitude. The Infocenter thus makes an important contribution to transparency, knowledge transfer and participation throughout the entire duration of the project," continued APG project manager Hafner.

Afterwards, APG CEO Gerhard Christiner explained the importance of the transformation of the energy system and the significance of the Carinthia grid area project and the closing of the gap in the 380 kV ring in Austria: "The Carinthia grid area project is a project of the century, comparable to the construction of the Koralm Railway. It will ensure that electricity continues to flow reliably in the future, that renewable energy is fed into the grid and that we become less dependent on oil and gas.  Around 85 percent of renewable generation is located in the east of Austria. The Carinthia Grid Area project plays a central role in storing this energy, which is mainly produced during the midday hours, in the pumped storage power plants in the west. Without sufficient grid capacity, we will not be able to deliver sustainable electricity to customers at times when the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing. The more efficient our electricity grid is, the cheaper electricity prices will be at the end of the day. The Carinthian grid area is also a decisive factor for strengthening Carinthia as a business and tourism location and for securing and creating jobs."  

Afterwards, Michael Marketz, Managing Director of Kärnten Netz, explained why Netzraum Kärnten is one of the most important infrastructure projects in Austria from the perspective of a distribution system operator: "Our main task is to ensure a secure and sufficient supply of electricity in the state of Carinthia. The joint project with APG makes a significant contribution to this. We are bundling infrastructure by running two systems on the same pylons in one route, which protects people and nature and enables a very cost-efficient expansion of our 110 kV grid. We need to expand our 110 kV grid and make it fit for the next 100 years. This is essential for the transition of households and the economy from fossil fuels to renewable energy and thus for Carinthia as an economic and living space. We are connecting the planned new 110 kV line from Oberdrauburg to Obersielach with the existing 110 kV grid; Kärnten Netz is also building or expanding eight new substations. Another part of the joint project is the dismantling of 140 km of old 110 kV lines, some of which run through residential areas. Here we are achieving significant improvements for thousands of people."

At the end of the event, the Head of Project Communication at TransnetBW GmbH, Saskia Albrecht, explained the current status of the grid expansion in Germany and Baden-Württemberg. The focus was also on the fact that overhead line technology is the state of the art for 380 kV grid expansion projects in Germany. 

About Austrian Power Grid (APG)

As an independent transmission system operator, Austrian Power Grid (APG) is responsible for the secure supply of electricity in Austria. With our high-performance and digital electricity infrastructure and the use of state-of-the-art technologies, we integrate renewable energies and thus reduce import dependency, act as a platform for the electricity market, create access to affordable electricity and thus form the basis for a secure supply and sustainable business and living location. The APG grid extends over a route length of around 3,500 km, which the company operates and maintains with a team of around 1,000 specialists and continuously adapts to the increasing requirements of electrification of society, business and industry. The control center in Vienna remotely operates the majority of the 68 substations distributed throughout Austria. Thanks to our dedicated employees, security of supply remained at 99.99% in 2024, putting us at the top of the global field. Our investments of EUR 630 million in 2025 (2024: EUR 440 million, 2023: EUR 490 million) are an economic driver and an essential building block for achieving Austria's energy targets. APG will invest a total of around 9 billion euros in grid expansion and conversion by 2034.

About Kärnten Netz
As a distribution system operator, KNG-Kärnten Netz GmbH ensures a secure and reliable energy supply for its customers. Its main tasks include the planning, demand-oriented expansion, operation and maintenance of the electricity and gas grid as well as efficient fault management. With around 720 employees, Kärnten Netz manages transformer stations, 50 substations and an electricity grid that is around 18,600 km long.