Transnet BW halts Südlink construction due to geological issues

Transnet BW, the operator of the Südlink power line, has announced a temporary construction halt on one of Germany’s largest energy transition projects. The stoppage affects work in Bad Friedrichshall-Kochendorf, where new geological findings have necessitated a redesign of the underground cable installation within an old salt mine.

Transnet BW is working with the mine operator, Südwestdeutsche Salzwerke (SWS), to develop an alternative technical solution. The German Ministry of Economic Affairs is reportedly in close contact with the involved parties. While the impact on the project's total cost and timeline remains uncertain, the Südlink project is a critical 700-kilometer transmission line designed to transport wind and solar energy from northern coasts to industrial regions in southern Germany.