50Hertz releases more than 40,000 environmental data on the south-east link

The eastern German transmission system operator 50Hertz has handed over environmental data on the planned Südostlink power line to the responsible authorities in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. As the company announced, the information is now publicly accessible in the databases of the state environmental agencies.

For the planning of the approximately 267-kilometre-long route between Wolmirstedt (Saxony-Anhalt) and Thuringia's state border with Bavaria, 50Hertz recorded the occurrence of protected animal species between 2020 and 2024. Birds, reptiles, amphibians, bats, wildcats, hamsters and insects were documented along a corridor of 500 meters to the left and right of the planned line. In total, more than 40,000 data records on around 330 protected species were collected.

Data treasure for nature conservation

"We are pleased that the results of our mapping on the Southeast Link can help to advance nature conservation and enable the most environmentally friendly planning possible for other infrastructure projects," said Marcel Krause, program manager of the Southeast Link.

After the data handover, 50Hertz announced that it would also provide mapping for other projects to the state authorities in the future. To this end, an exchange with the authorities is planned, to which other project sponsors will also be invited.

Key project of the energy transition

The Südostlink is considered one of the central power lines of the energy transition in Germany. It is intended to transport wind power from northern and eastern Germany to the south of the country. The northern section of the approximately 540-kilometre-long route through eastern Germany is being implemented by 50Hertz, while grid operator Tennet is responsible for the southern section through Bavaria.