The German energy regulator Bundesnetzagentur has received two applications from transmission network operators Tennet and 50Hertz for two large HVDC power transmission line projects, the SuedLink and the SuedOstLink, which would deliver wind power generation from northern Germany to Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, where the last nuclear power plants will have to shut down by 2022.
The SuedOstLink would consist in a DC line from Wolmirstedt in Saxony-Anhalt to Isar near Landshut in Bavaria. It would be laid underground as a ground cable and would have a transmission capacity of 2 GW. Commissioning of the line is planned for 2025.
The SuedLink project consists of the two DC lines from Wilster (Schleswig-Holstein) to Grafenrheinfeld (Bavaria) and from Brunsbüttel (Schleswig-Holstein) to Großgartach (Baden-Württemberg). It could be commissioned from 2025 onwards.
In addition, a third DC project, Ultranet, between Osterrrath and Philippsburg (Baden-Württemberg) is also under development.