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Energy security for central Upper Austria
APG is working together with project partners Netz OÖ and Linz Netz on a project called “Energy security for central Upper Austria”. The project is aimed at upgrading the existing power grid to meet the challenges of the future.
Working to ensure energy security in your region
“Energy security for central Upper Austria” is an APG project designed to guarantee a sustainable supply of electricity for the region and to support energy transition, including the electrification of the economy, industry and society.
Project ticker
All current information about the project at a glance.
Project ticker
All current information about the project at a glance.
- Update
- Milestone
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Federal Administrative Court - Hearing
Almost exactly one year ago (in March 2023), the responsible environmental impact assessment authorities, the provinces of Upper Austria and Lower Austria, decided that the joint project of the three grid operators was not harmful to the environment. However, since three complaints were filed against the positive EIA decision of the province of Upper Austria (one of which has already been rejected by the Supreme Court), a second-instance hearing regarding the two pending appeals was scheduled at the Federal Administrative Court in Vienna for March 4/5 and 7, 2024 (the approval for the Lower Austrian part of the project had already become legally binding in the first instance).
The three-day hearing was very orderly and structured. Issues included aspects of electrical engineering and the energy industry, nature and landscape conservation, forestry and human medicine.
Hütte Süd
On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, the groundbreaking ceremony took place for the expansion of the Hütte Süd substation of Austrian Power Grid AG (APG), which is also part of the joint project cluster Central Region Upper Austria. As a new 220/110 kV hub, the expanded substation will be a central element for the decarbonization of the industrial and business location Upper Austria and thus facilitate the success of the energy transition in the region and throughout Austria without jeopardizing the security of supply.
The Hütte Süd substation is also an important part of the grid with regard to the joint project "Secure Power Supply Central Upper Austria" of APG, Netz OÖ and Linz Netz, which will make the central region fit for the future, especially with regard to capacity requirements. However, the expansion of the substation is not a legal part of the EIA procedure.
Permission Granted With Positive EIA Decision by Provincial Authorities
The province of Upper Austria, as the EIA authority conducting the proceedings, confirms the environmental compatibility for the joint project "Secure Power Supply Central Region Upper Austria" of Austrian Power Grid (APG), Netz Oberösterreich GmbH (Netz OÖ) and LINZ NETZ GmbH (LINZ NETZ).
From November 29 to December 2, 2022, the oral hearing by the EIA authority (Upper Austria) took place at the Design Center in Linz. Only three months later (March 9, 2023), the positive EIA decision by the authority is available. This decision is the result of a professional handling of the EIA procedure on the part of the EIA authority. This decision is an important milestone for the realization of one of the most important infrastructure projects in the country. It is an important contribution to a secure power supply, the success of the energy transition and the electrification of businesses, industry and society in the region and all of Austria.
The decision shows that there are no negative effects either with regard to nature conservation or from the point of view of human medicine. The authority therefore concludes that the project "Secure Power Supply Central Upper Austria" is environmentally compatible and permissible in the light of the expert opinions and the results of the EIA procedure that was carried out.
Read more about this in the press release.
Project information
At present, all of central Upper Austria is supplied with electricity via a 110-kV power grid only. The current 110-kV grid is not equipped to meet the challenges of the future or to support the rapid pace of development underway throughout the central region of Upper Austria. This means that the region’s existing power infrastructure will reach the limits of its capacity in just a few years.
Electricity consumption is set to increase significantly in central Upper Austria in the coming years. The reason is dynamic growth of the Enns-Steyr power region/economic area as well as advancing electrification and the conversion of industrial processes that goes along with this (e.g. voestalpine’s transition to electricity-based steel production). Rising consumer numbers are also a factor. According to the population forecast of the state of Upper Austria, there is a projected growth to approximately 332,500 inhabitants by 2045 in Linz, Wels and Steyr alone.
Austrian Power Grid (APG), Netz Oberösterreich GmbH (Netz OÖ) and LINZ NETZ GmbH (LINZ NETZ) are working together to transform the power grid – to make sure you continue to be supplied with electricity whenever you need it. Plans to construct a 220-kV supply ring to replace the existing 110-kV lines are currently underway.
Secure power supply central region of Upper Austria
Project Roadmap
Start of construction
Construction will commence in late 2024 at the earliest.
Federal Administrative Court - Hearing
Hearing in the second instance at the Federal Administrative Court in Vienna.
EIA-decision
The positive EIA-decisions from the gouvermants of Upper Austrian and Lower Austrian have been received.
EIA hearing
The oral EIA hearing took place at the Design Center in Linz.
EIA submission
The project documents will be submitted to the relevant authorities in Upper Austria and Lower Austria as required by the 2000 Environmental Impact Assessment Act (UVP-G 2,000).
Planning process
Plan and prepare the project documentation
Frequently asked questions - FAQ
Once completed, the planned 220-kV supply ring will link APG’s substations in Ernsthofen, Pichling, Hütte Süd, Wegscheid and Kronstorf. The system operator’s concept includes the following components:
- replace existing transmission lines;
- voltage conversion (from 110 kV to 220 kV) of the line sections already ready for 220 kV;
- expansion and conversion work at a total of eight substations; and
- work to dismantle the 110-kV lines no longer needed.
To keep the impact on people and the environment as low as possible, the new transmission lines will be installed along existing line routes of APG, Netz OÖ and LINZ NETZ.
Affording equal treatment to all property owners is of the utmost priority for APG and its project partners, Netz OÖ and Linz Netz.
Our power lines can impact properties in one of three ways:
- when an electricity pylon is erected on the property;
- when the property is traversed by overhead transmission lines (whereby only the land within the easement area through which the lines run is impacted); and
- when forest areas are cleared.
The compensation to be paid for appropriated land (including agricultural land and forested areas) is stipulated in a framework agreement drafted in cooperation with the Upper Austria Chamber of Agriculture.
The framework agreement governs the calculation of the compensation amount stipulated in the private-law easement agreement to be entered into by mutual agreement with all property owners. It also stipulates a number of general conditions relevant to the construction and operation of transmission line systems.
The framework agreement applies equally to all land used for agricultural or forestry purposes, thus ensuring a uniform and equitable approach toward all.
- The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) comprises Austria’s strictest review and approval process. The EIA process is designed to ensure that the entire project is presented in a transparent and detailed manner and that stakeholders (e.g. property owners, local communities, etc.) and other parties involved in the process are able to inspect and comment on the project documents.
- Prior to submitting the EIA, an environmental impact statement (EIS) is prepared. In addition to a precise description of the project, the EIS comprises 20 expert reports subject to review and is the main component of the subsequent environmental impact assessment process. The EIS is submitted to the EIA authorities responsible for the assessment procedure (the governments of the states of Upper and Lower Austria).
- That documentation is taken as the basis for the review and assessment of the project’s potential impact on material assets specific to the region, such as humans and wildlife, soil, water and the landscape. Following comprehensive review by the EIA authorities, an environmental impact assessment report is issued.
- After the EIA report has been issued, an oral EIA hearing is held, which is scheduled by the EIA authority.
- Finally, the EIA authority issues a decision, which ideally becomes legally binding after an objection period.
The present network development plan will serve to establish a secure, efficient and high-performance supply of power to support the future development of central Upper Austria. It will improve the integration of renewable energy sources to make clean energy available throughout Austria.
The integration of green electricity is a crucial part of the network development plan, as it will be necessary to electrify industrial processes if the energy transition is to succeed. voestalpine, for instance, will only be able to switch to new, carbon-friendly technologies – i.e. electricity-based steel production – if it has access to a high-performance power grid.
The investment volume amounts to around 650 million euros.
The amount stated is a planning figure. This planning figure is subject to price changes on the global market, particularly due to the long implementation period until 2030.
The “Energy security for central Upper Austria” project will take place in stages from 2026 to 2030.
Contact person
Mario Golger
Project lead
Stefan Walehrach
Project communication
Projekt Postfach ZROÖ
