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
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TYNDP22 No.: TR 312
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
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TYNDP22 No.: TR 313
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)
Lienz South Connection upgrade
The requirements for the electricity grid of the future are constantly increasing, and East Tyrol and Carinthia are no exception. A high-performance power grid is needed to handle the growing number of consumers and the changing energy market in the region. To guarantee that the region has a secure supply of electricity now and for generations to come, APG will be upgrading the 220-kV power line running from the Lienz substation to the Italian border that was commissioned 70 years ago. In most cases the existing route corridor will be used for the line upgrade. However, in some cases it will be possible to optimise the route to increase the distance to local residents and to circumvent development areas in the municipalities and avoid potential natural hazards. Specifically, we will attempt to move the existing route corridor away from populated areas in the Amlach municipal area to improve the situation for residents.
The line upgrade will involve replacing the existing conductor cable (a single-cable configuration) with a modern two-bundle configuration, which will increase line conductivity while at the same time notably reducing corona noise (the hissing sound coming from electricity lines). The voltage level of the line will remain at 220 kV. The construction phase of the project is scheduled for 2027 to 2031.
Basic data:
- PCI No.: 2.8