A new high-voltage line from Vierverlaten (Groningen) to Ens in the Noordoostpolder runs in Groningen along the A7 or the existing high-voltage network. A route straight through Drenthe has been dropped.
In Hoogkerk, residents of the area were able to catch up on Tuesday evening about the plans for a new 380 kV high-voltage line between Vierverlaten and Ens. The construction of a new high-voltage line between Vierverlaten and Eemshaven is almost complete, the line will be taken into use on 7 July.
Plans were previously on the table, have been taken out of the refrigerator
The plans for a new high-voltage connection to the Noordoostpolder have been on the table before, but they were shelved in 2014.
The line currently being discussed is intended to transport sustainably generated energy (solar and wind) from Eemshaven further into the country. Tennet and the Ministry of Economic Affairs (EZK) also hope that the new line will solve bottlenecks on the electricity grid.
In addition, the line helps to make energy transport to Europe possible.
Connection across Drenthe is lost
Together with government authorities, a search has been started for possible routes. That resulted in 18 possibilities. There are now five of them left. One of the options that was rejected was a high-voltage line straight through Drenthe.
That route, via Assen and Hoogeveen, was dropped because it was technically complicated. There was also little space to construct near Assen due to existing buildings. Moreover, this ‘Drenthe line’ would cross various Natura 2000 areas.
Lelyline
During the construction of the line, EZK and Tennet want to link up as much as possible with existing projects in order to cut through the landscape as little as possible. This autumn, for example, it will also be examined whether the new connection can be fitted alongside the Lelylijn railway line.
The intention is to stay as far away from existing buildings as possible. However, it can happen that the new line comes too close to houses. “We want to avoid it, but we cannot rule it out,” said a representative of EZK in Hoogkerk.
The new connection can therefore have major consequences for residents in the area. That was immediately the main question of the dozens of visitors to the information meeting in Hoogkerk. It also became clear that it is still too early to give a definitive answer to this.
Hoping to build around 2030
It is hoped that a decision can be taken in 2028 on the route of the 380 kV high-voltage connection Vierverlaten-Ens. Then construction could start in 2030. But the construction of the 380 kV Vierverlaten-Eemshaven has already shown that it can also take much longer.
It is certain that the new connection will have traditional masts. Not the slender piles used for the Vierverlaten-Eemshaven connection. The traditional masts are less expensive, more environmentally friendly to install and comply with the regulations after some adjustment.
The five possible routes are:
-From Groningen to Oudehaske via the existing high-voltage route via Kootstertille, Bergum Leeuwarden in the direction of Heerenveen.
-From Groningen to Oudehaske via the A7.
-From Oudehaske to Ens along the A6.
-From Oudehaske to Ens via the existing high-voltage connection.
-From Oudehaske to Ens via the existing 110-kV connection.