Elia

Elia News

ALEGrO, the first interconnector between Belgium and Germany, enters service

On Monday, 9 November, transmission system operators Elia and Amprion inaugurated the first electrical interconnector between Belgium and Germany. The event was live-streamed from Aachen Town Hall and attended by Belgian Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten and Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia Armin Laschet. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo sent video messages expressing their appreciation for the project. ALEGrO will enable the two countries to exchange an additional 1,000 MW (1 GW) of electricity, and is due to start operating commercially on 18 November 2020 (day-ahead market) and 8 December (intraday market).

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Watch the video message from the German Chancellor Angela Merkel in honour of the inauguration of ALEGrO.

Watch the video message from Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo in honour of the inauguration of ALEGrO.

Despite the current COVID-19 pandemic, the original planning was maintained. In this video, the Elia and Amprion project teams look back with satisfaction on the successful 10-year collaboration.

World's first hybrid interconnector inaugurated

On 20 October 2020, German transmission system operator 50Hertz (Elia Group) and Danish system operator Energinet inaugurated Combined Grid Solution (CGS), the world's first offshore hybrid interconnector. The inauguration took place in Berlin in the presence of German Federal Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier. There were also video messages from Danish Climate and Energy Minister Dan Jørgensen and EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson. CGS brings wind energy from German and Danish offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea to onshore power grids and can also be used as an interconnector between the German and Danish power grids.

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Watch the project video of the world's first hybrid interconnector.

Watch the after-movie of the inauguration of Combined Grid Solution.

Coalition for sustainable offshore development

A Coalition of NGOs, wind industry and transmission system operators has joined forces today to cooperate on the sustainable deployment of offshore wind, while ensuring alignment with nature protection and healthy marine ecosystems. 18 organisations from across Europe, including Elia & 50Hertz, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

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Biodiversity under high-voltage lines

In both Flanders and Wallonia, we are seeing the first positive results of an Elia project to boost biodiversity under some overhead lines. In the past, trees beneath power lines used to be cleared for safety reasons, but now efforts are being made to adapt the vegetation in order to benefit fauna and flora. Watch this Kanaal Z report to find out more.

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Elia trials robots for inspection and maintenance activities

Elia is testing various kinds of robots for use in inspection and maintenance activities on hard-to-access sites. One such test took place at the ALEGrO converter station in Lixhe. The aim of the trials is to investigate the technical feasibility and added value of robot technology.

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New cross-border intraday products

On Thursday, 10 December, new 15- and 30-minute cross-border intraday products will be launched on the bidding zone borders between Belgium, Germany, France and the Netherlands. The outcome of a collaboration between transmission system operators Amprion (GE), Elia (BE), RTE (FR) and TenneT (NL), the new market products closely reflect the real-time grid situation and will help market players optimise their balance responsibility.

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