The new high-voltage line, an underground cable around seven kilometres long, is protected by the egeplast Power Protect cable protection conduit system, which was installed in part using horizontal directional drilling and ploughing.
The energy transition is entering a decisive phase. The federal political goal of sourcing at least 80% of Germany’s gross electricity consumption from renewable energies by 2030 is becoming a fixed point for social, economic and industrial development in Germany – including the development of the power grid. Climate-neutral living and economic activity require a power grid that can meet the demands of the energy transition: it must collect and distribute the highly fluctuating volumes of renewable energy generated across the country. In addition, it must meet the sharply rising demand for electricity and deliver more than ever before. For power grid operators, this means they will have to massively expand and modernise their grids in the coming years.
The largest regional distribution network operator in Bavaria is Bayernwerk Netz GmbH. It supplies energy to around seven million people in total and is extremely active in expanding the power grid for the energy transition. In its energy networks, the company already distributes up to 70% of electrical energy from renewable sources.
New high-voltage cable distributes green electricity
One example of grid expansion in the high-voltage network is the construction of the approximately seven-kilometre-long underground cable line in the Kelheim district in Lower Bavaria, which connects the new Bachl substation to the high-voltage network. This is a crucial building block for the energy transition in the region, because far more electricity is generated here in photovoltaic systems than is consumed locally. There are many suitable areas, especially along the motorway, which is why the region is a pioneer in renewable energies. The new cable can distribute green electricity in the surrounding area.
Construction work on the power line has been underway since the beginning of 2023, civil engineering work has been completed since August, and the pipes are ready for pulling in the power cables. For this high-voltage line, egeplast supplied Power Protect cable protection conduit systems made of PE-RT.
Trenchless methods in sensitive areas
One challenge in the civil engineering work for this new high-voltage line was that different construction methods were used. In some sections, the pipes were installed using open-cut construction. To cross roads and particularly sensitive areas, Bayernwerk Netz GmbH used horizontal directional drilling (carried out by PFAFFINGER BEERMANN PB Drill- & Energietechnik GmbH). Along the largest part of the route, with a length of around four kilometres, a plough installed the pipes into the ground.
Florian Lippl, Head of Pipeline/Network Construction Department at Pfaffinger Bau SE, draws a positive project conclusion: “We would like to thank Bayernwerk Netz GmbH for awarding the contract to build the underground cable route and will continue the existing cooperation from previous projects with the usual quality and reliability.”
Pfaffinger Bau SE, headquartered in Passau, is a medium-sized company in the construction and industrial sector, founded in 1855 by master builder Paul Pfaffinger and still family-owned today – in the fifth generation. The Pfaffinger Group of Companies has specialised strongly in renewable energies and alternative construction methods.
egeplast
Power Protect PE
Protective pipes for high and extra-high voltage cables with a low-friction inner layer and individual marking.
UV-resistant signal color layer
Solid wall or co-extruded, optionally with stripes
Inspection-friendly inner layer: optionally highly slidable or abrasion-resistant
Learn moreProject Description
Construction of a new high-voltage cable (110 kV) in the AC grid
Challenges
Installation of a cable protection conduit system for a 110 kV line in the
distribution network
Solution
Use of Power Protect cable protection conduit systems made of PE-RT
Installation
Open-cut construction, horizontal directional drilling and ploughing
Pipe System
egeplast Power Protect cable protection conduits for underground cable construction
13,000 m d 180 x 10.7 mm SDR 17
29,500 m d 200 x 18.2 mm SDR 11
Various fittings
Project Participants
Client: Bayernwerk Netz GmbH
Installation: Pfaffinger Bau SE;
PFAFFINGER BEERMANN PB Drill- & Energietechnik GmbH
Source: Sustainability
