Contribution to supply security in the north of Berlin
Ground-breaking ceremony for Stromnetz Berlin's new Wittenau grid node
19.06.2024
We are all familiar with the multiple junction boxes in our homes. Stromnetz Berlin’s 17 grid nodes are like giant junction boxes in Berlin's high-voltage grid. They each supply several substations in a region with large quantities of electricity and a voltage of 110,000 volts. One of these network nodes in the north of the city is to be replaced with a new one in the coming years. Today, 19 June, saw the ground-breaking ceremony for the future Wittenau network node on Holzhauser Strasse. From 2031, the plant is to secure the electricity supply for household and commercial customers in Reinickendorf, to which end it will be equipped with state-of-the-art, climate-friendly switchgear technology. The network node is being built as a replacement for an old plant on the same site. The ground-breaking ceremony took place today in the presence of the Reinickendorf District Councillor for Urban Development Korinna Stephan; State Secretary for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises Dr Severin Fischer; Stromnetz Berlin Managing Director Dr Erik Landeck; Stephan Boy, Managing Director of Stromnetz's parent company BEN, and Project Manager Marlon Baar.
Dr Erik Landeck: "The demand for electricity in Berlin will continue to grow. To handle this, we need to double the city’s network capacity over the next ten years. The new plant is part of our investment programme to achieve this goal."
Reinickendorf's District Councillor for Urban Development Korinna Stephan: “The new Wittenau grid node is a clear signal for the energy and heating transition in Reinickendorf. This project is an important building block for a reliable and climate-friendly energy supply in our region. It means decentralised energy supply and electricity-intensive heat generation can be further expanded and the district made more climate-friendly. It shows how we can sustainably shape the future of our city with innovative technology and targeted investments."
Dr Severin Fischer, State Secretary for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Stromnetz Berlin: "With the construction of the new grid node, Stromnetz Berlin is once again demonstrating that the expansion and maintenance of our grid follow a clear plan for the future. Around 60 million euros have been budgeted for the construction over the coming years. A very good investment in the security of supply for the north of Berlin, and with that for the whole of Berlin."
The excavation pit for the new network node should be completed by mid-2025. The shell of the 60 x 15 metre building is scheduled for completion in 2026. The switchgear will move to Wittenau in 2026. After the planned commissioning in 2031, the neighbouring old plant will be dismantled. The new system will contain 23 switch panels; the old system has 11. Switch panels facilitate the direction of the flow of electricity to various grid areas and to the connected substations in the north of Berlin. The new Wittenau network node has been designed for further conversion and expansion in the future. Among other things, it supports the supply of the new Schumacher neighbourhood on the former airport site. The new replacement is necessary as the existing network node of 1968 is reaching the end of its technical service life.