One year on from ground-breaking ceremony: Foundation stone laid for Amalienhof substation

New construction to replace old plant is one of three Stromnetz Berlin projects in Spandau

15.09.2025

Stromnetz Berlin continues to strengthen the power grid in Berlin. Spandau is a current focus here. Indeed, there are three substation projects ongoing in the district at present. The foundation stone was laid today (15 September 2025) for the new building of the Amalienhof substation in Schmidt-Knobelsdorff-Straße. The new plant is scheduled to go into operation in 2031 and will replace the existing 1970s building on the same site. The old plant will then be dismantled.  

The contents of the time capsule for the foundation stone were chosen by Spandau's District Councillor for Construction, Planning, Environmental Protection and Nature Conservation, Thorsten Schatz, together with Stephan Boy, Managing Director at Berlin Energie & Netz Holding GmbH, and Dr Erik Landeck, Managing Director at Stromnetz Berlin.   

District Councillor Thorsten Schatz said: "In a growing Berlin, the infrastructure must also grow to ensure that the city works properly. Stromnetz Berlin is making another important contribution to the electricity supply in the Spandau district with the new building for the Amalienhof substation. In this way, we are jointly establishing the conditions for the continued positive development of our district."

Dr Erik Landeck, Chairman of the Management Board at Stromnetz Berlin, said: "Last week, an arson attack on two of our electricity pylons in Berlin-Johannisthal caused the biggest disruption in Berlin for decades and the only one of its kind ever seen. Protecting and strengthening our infrastructure is therefore more important today than ever before. The expansion and modernisation of our grid will not only secure the electricity supply in Spandau and the whole of Berlin in the long term. With projects such as the Amalienhof substation, we are also making the overall system more resilient." 

Stromnetz Berlin is investing around 46 million euros in the substation project. The old plant from the 1970s has reached the end of its service life. The fact that the spare parts needed for its maintenance are no longer available was a key factor in the decision. A special feature is that the new building, which measures 25 by 30 metres, is being erected only around 80 centimetres from the old facility, while maintaining normal operations. The new substation will have a clinker façade that is typical of Berlin and its electricity supply facilities. Thanks to modern technology, it is somewhat more compact than its predecessor, yet still offers enough space inside for expansion.  

 The new Amalienhof substation will supply many thousands of households in the neighbourhood with electricity. The building shell is scheduled for completion by autumn 2026. The electrical systems will then gradually be installed. The new substation is scheduled to go online in autumn 2031. The old plant will then be dismantled by 2032.   

As part of an on-site dialogue with the public, Stromnetz Berlin has been providing information about the construction project since it was launched in early 2024, as well as throughout the construction period. Residents regularly receive first-hand information here. 

 The location right next to the district's well-known "Orchideenwiese" biotope is also a special one for Stromnetz Berlin, which the company is keen to protect and help preserve. Accordingly, rainwater from the roof of the new substation will be channelled onto the meadow to help preserve its unique flora and fauna. The roof design of the new building also includes green spaces and a solar system.