Energy security for central Upper Austria

Construction phase 1

Particularly exciting in the partner project "Secure power supply central Upper Austria" by APG, Netz OÖ & Linz Netz: Construction phase 1 - the existing & single cable section will be extended by three cable systems by 2026. Watch the video to find out how the construction phase will be implemented & and what challenges will be overcome to ensure a secure power supply! ????

APG in the high-voltage podcast of Netz OÖ!

APG project manager Mario Golger talks to Wolfgang Denk (press spokesman for Netz Oberösterreich GmbH?) in the latest podcast episode about the progress of the "Secure power supply in the central Upper Austrian region" project.

The implementation of the partner project between APG, Netz OÖ and Linz Netz will ensure a sustainable power supply in the region and enable the energy transition and the electrification of the economy, industry and society.

Listen in now: https://bit.ly/3UsHsdk

First of three transformers arrives at Hütte Süd substation

On Tuesday, March 25, the first of this year's three 220/110 kV transformers was delivered to the Hütte Süd substation. With a transport weight of 272 tons and an output of 300 megavolt amperes (MVA), this electricity giant is making a key contribution to ensuring a secure supply and a strong economic and living location in Upper Austria.

The transport of the giant transformer was a logistical masterpiece: the electricity giant was transported from the Siemens plant in Weiz by train on an approximately 14-metre-long through-loading carrier to the heavy-duty port in Linz. There it was reloaded onto a special 14-axle road transporter consisting of several heavy-duty modules. The special feature: the heavy-duty transporter is precisely operated and controlled by remote control. Once it arrived at the substation, the 272 tons were then placed on cross rails in front of the transformer foundation, the transformer's new workplace, by means of a lifting frame and pulled onto the foundation the following day with millimetre precision. Once fully upgraded, the transformer will weigh 445 tons. In April and June of this year, two more 220/110 kV transformers will be delivered to the Hütte Süd substation. The 900 MVA output of the three transformers will then be roughly equivalent to the output of three large Danube power plants. This will significantly increase the feed-in capacity for climate-friendly electricity and enable a secure energy transition in the region.

Click here for the press release.

Information consultation day in Linz

In the course of the ongoing construction work for the "Secure Power Supply Central Upper Austria" project, another information consultation day was held for citizens on March 11. After two successful information events were held in Kronstorf and St. Florian in September 2024, this time it was Linz's turn. At the Pichling sports park, we provided information primarily about the current work in construction phase 1.

Between 3 and 6 p.m., interested citizens had the opportunity to make personal contact with a team of around 12 experts, consisting of APG employees and the project partners Netz Oberösterreich and Linz Netz. They were able to obtain comprehensive information about the ongoing work in their area and about the project as a whole.

In numerous personal discussions, citizens were able to address their individual concerns and questions directly to the team of experts.</p

The first mast is in place

The erection of the first electricity pylon marks an important technical and symbolic milestone in the "Secure Power Supply Central Upper Austria" project.

This pylon in the area of the market town of St. Florian is part of the quadruple line that will run two 220 kV systems (APG) and two 110 kV systems (Netz OÖ) from the Ernsthofen substation to the Pichling substation.

The pylon is the first of 138 pylons that will be erected as part of the overall project. In construction phase 2 (2024-2026), which is currently under construction, work on the other pylon locations, such as foundation work or pylon pre-assembly, is already in full swing.</p

Official ground-breaking ceremony for a secure power supply in the central Upper Austrian region has taken place

Today saw the official ground-breaking ceremony and thus the starting signal for the major energy industry project "Secure Power Supply Central Upper Austria" by APG, Netz OÖ and Linz Netz. The project is a prerequisite for the decarbonization of industry in the region (e.g. electricity-based steel production) and thus the basis for a significant CO₂ reduction and the success of the secure energy transition in the region and throughout Austria.

To mark the start of the project, the project applicants APG, Netz OÖ and Linz Netz, represented by Gerhard Christiner, CEO of APG, Marcus Karger, Commercial Director of APG, as well as the managing directors of the project partners Netz OÖ Manfred Hofer and Michael Haselauer, and Linz Netz Johannes Zimmerberger, invited guests to the ground-breaking ceremony at the Pichling substation. Also present were Stefan Kaineder, Upper Austria's State Councillor for the Environment and Climate, Christian Mader, Member of Parliament (standing in for Markus Achleitner, State Councillor for Economic Affairs and Energy), Gerald Mayer, CFO of voestalpine AG and Jürgen Schneider, Head of the Climate and Energy Section at BMK.

Information days on project implementation

On the occasion of the start of construction this summer for the "Secure Power Supply Central Upper Austria" project, two information consultation days were held in the municipalities of Kronstorf and St. Florian on September 10 and 11.

The dedicated APG project team and the project partners Netz Oberösterreich and Linz Netz were on site from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. to provide interested citizens with comprehensive information. Around 80 visitors took the opportunity to find out about the project in general, the route of the line, the measures in the individual construction phases and substations, the technology used and various accompanying measures.

In numerous personal discussions, individual questions were answered in detail. We were very pleased about the lively exchange with the population from the project region and greatly appreciate the great interest and constructive discussions.</p

Start of construction work

After the Federal Administrative Court (BVwG) confirmed the positive EIA decision of the province of Upper Austria in the second instance at the end of June 2024, preparatory construction measures for the "Secure Electricity Supply Central Upper Austria" project were started and implemented immediately, meaning that the actual implementation of the project can now begin.

The construction work for the project will start with the first two of a total of four line construction sections and at the two substations Kronstorf and Pichling. This will be followed by expansion and conversion work at six further substations as part of the project. The supply ring will be commissioned in stages from 2026 to 2030. 

More information and details in the press release.

BVwG confirms environmental compatibility of the project

It is a milestone for the "Secure Power Supply Central Upper Austria" project and thus for the energy transition in Austria. Following the positive EIA decisions by the federal states of Upper Austria and Lower Austria in March 2023, the Federal Administrative Court (BVwG) has now also confirmed the EIA approval for the Upper Austrian part of the project in the second instance on June 24.

Next steps

However, with this confirmation of the positive EIA decision by the BVwG, not only has the environmental compatibility of the project been confirmed once again, but the approval can also be consumed in full. There is also no longer any suspensive effect, which means that the necessary steps can now begin before the actual start of construction. These include the implementation of ecological requirements (e.g. amphibian fences), construction site equipment, site clearance and other preparatory work. As soon as these have been completed, project implementation can begin.

Click here for the press release: Milestone reached for energy transition in Austria - Austria needs electricity (apg.at)

BVwG hearing

Almost exactly one year ago (in March 2023), the responsible environmental impact assessment authorities, the province of Upper Austria and the province of Lower Austria, confirmed the environmental compatibility of the joint project of the three grid operators. Following the lodging of three appeals (one of which has since been rejected by the Supreme Court) against the positive EIA decision of the province of Upper Austria, the second-instance hearing regarding the two pending appeals was held before the Federal Administrative Court in Vienna on 4/5 and 7 March 2024 (the approval for the Lower Austrian part of the project was already legally binding in the first instance).

The three-day hearing was very orderly and structured. Topics included electrical engineering and the energy industry, nature and landscape conservation, forestry and human medicine.</p

Hut South

On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, the ground-breaking ceremony took place for the expansion of the Hütte Süd substation of Austrian Power Grid AG (APG), which is also part of the joint Central Upper Austria project cluster. As a new 220/110 kV node, the future expanded substation is central to the decarbonization of Upper Austria as an industrial and business location and thus enables the success of the secure energy transition in the region and throughout Austria.

The Hütte Süd substation is also an essential grid-related part of the partner project "Secure Power Supply Central Upper Austria" of APG, Netz OÖ and Linz Netz, with which the central region will be made fit for the future, especially with regard to capacity requirements. However, the expansion of the substation is not a legal part of the EIA process.</p

Approval granted with positive EIA decision from the state

The province of Upper Austria, as the EIA authority conducting the procedure, confirms the environmental compatibility of the joint project "Secure Power Supply Central Upper Austria" of Austrian Power Grid (APG), Netz Oberösterreich GmbH (Netz OÖ) and LINZ NETZ GmbH (LINZ NETZ).

From 29 November to 2 December 2022, the oral hearing was held by the EIA authority (Province of Upper Austria) at the Design Center in Linz. Only three months later (09.03.2023), the positive EIA decision was issued by the authority. This decision is the result of the professional handling of the EIA procedure by the EIA authority. This decision is an important milestone in the realization of one of the country's most important infrastructure projects. An important contribution to the secure supply of electricity, the success of the energy transition and the electrification of the economy, industry and society in the region and for Austria as a whole.

The decision shows that there will be no negative effects in terms of nature conservation or human medicine. The authority therefore concludes that the "Secure Power Supply Central Upper Austria" project is environmentally compatible and permissible in light of the expert reports and the results of the EIA procedure carried out.

Read more in the press release.</p