Burying rather than excavating: expeditious burial of the SuedLink cable beneath the soil
In a move aimed at reducing soil disturbance and crop loss, TenneT, the company responsible for the construction of the SuedOstLink power line, has announced it will use the cable plowing method for 42 km of the earth cable in Bavaria.
The official construction of the SuedLink began in August, and the Federal Network Agency has recently approved the last section of the power highway from Saxony-Anhalt to Bavaria. The SuedOstLink, a 543 km long direct current line, is slated to bring wind power from the north to the south by 2027.
The plowing method, a gentler form of power line construction compared to the open construction method, has been under evaluation for its potential to minimize impacts on agriculture during the construction of the SuedOstLink. Politicians, associations, property owners, and farmers have all voiced their support for this method.
The soil is heavily moved during the standard construction method of the SuedLink power line, leading to not only crop loss but also disturbed soil structure and compactions that can cause problems for years to come. The field test near Landshut demonstrated that the cable plowing method can be technically precise under certain conditions.
Advantages of the cable plowing method include fewer interventions, shorter closure times, and faster renaturation. The method allows for immediate use of the area after laying, a significant benefit for farmers. Georg Sachsenhauser, BBV district chairman Landshut, reported that the plowing method offers advantages, especially for agriculture.
The construction of the SuedLink power line is passing through agriculturally used regions. Around 130 of the total 700 km of the SuedLink project will be laid in the Free State of Bavaria, with the construction kick-off taking place in the Franconian village of Oerlenbach.
However, the construction of the SuedLink power line has been causing protests in many places for many years. The gentler construction method is hoped to alleviate some of these concerns.
The SuedOstLink project is a crucial step towards Germany's goal of transitioning to renewable energy sources. With the use of the cable plowing method, TenneT aims to balance the need for energy infrastructure with the need to protect Bavaria's agricultural lands.
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