The 380 kV

Diagonal Connection
Project information

2 50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection

50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection 3

Responsible grid expansion

50Hertz is one of the few European transmission system
operators (TSOs) with practical experience in both overhead
lines and underground cables at high voltage level.
The decision to build a power link as an overhead line or an
underground cable is always made on a case-by-case basis
and should always take the different factors into consideration. While the costs and the environmental impact of overhead and underground transmission technologies are often
the subject of debate, the practical operational aspects of
such solutions are usually overlooked. 50Hertz is one of the
few TSOs with decades worth of experience in the operation
of 220 and 380kV cable systems.
When discussing which of the technical alternatives is the right
choice, the operational properties of the conductors are of key
importance. Should the use of 380kV underground cables
become more widespread, equal importance is to be placed
on the security of supply.
The implementation of individual pilot projects (in this case,
underground cable systems), as provided in the Energy Line
Extension Act (EnLAG), is the best way to gain more operational experience and to test and further develop extra high
voltage (EHV) cables.

4 50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection

50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection 5

380kV Diagonal Connection

through Berlins load centres

The first step consisted of connecting the formerly separated

city halves with two powerful 380kV cable systems between
the Mitte and Friedrichshain substations in the borough of
Prenzlauer Berg. In the next expansion phase, a 380kV con-

In 1994, Berlin was connected to the former Western Euro-

nection was established between the Friedrichshain substa-

pean interconnected grid by means of a 380kV overhead line

tion and the newly constructed substation of Marzahn (on

from Helmstedt, running along the Wolmirstedt, Wustermark

and Berlin-Teufelsbruch transformer substations. The connection inside the city limits, up to the Reuter substation in the

the premises of the Prffeld fr Hochleistungstechnik Institute (IPH)). The transmission link was then extended to the
Neuenhagen substation east of Berlin by means of a 380kV

Spandau borough, was realised using a 380kV oil-filled cable

overhead line.

circuit.

Since the completion of the 380kV diagonal power link in

A fundamental study of the future supply of electricity to the

2000, Berlin has two powerful 380kV feed-in points, guaran-

capital showed that, both from an economic and technical

teeing a secure supply of electricity to the city.

point of view, a 380kV diagonal power link would be the

best solution.

380kV connection between

the Reuter and Mitte substations

Lubmin

Wolmirstedt

The two circuits of the 380kV transmission system consist

Malchow

of a 2.6km long overhead line connected to an 8.1km long

Teufelsbruch
Malchow

Reuter
Charlottenburg
Mitte
Reuter 1

Reuter 2

Neuenhagen
Marzahn

Friedrichshain

posed of two parallel, paper-insulated low pressure oil-filled

cable circuits with a conductor diameter of 1,200mm. The
single-conductor oil-filled cables were pulled into previously

Friedrichshain

Mitte 1 Mitte 2

cable section. In essence, the 380kV cable system is com-

Wuhlheide

installed pipes of asbestos cement. The pipes are filled with

water to cool the cables, which is pumped through a closed

Wuhlheide

primary cooling circuit and cooled off again in a cooling station. This jacket cooling method enables the transmission of
a guaranteed capacity of 1,120MVA per circuit. A unit at one
Preilack

Thyrow

end of the cable system supplies the oil and maintains the
pressure of the oil circuit.

380 kV underground cable system

380 kV overhead line

110 kV grid

220 kV overhead line

Substations

6 50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection

50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection 7

Integration of Berlin into the

interconnected grid

Completing the
380kV Diagonal Connection

The positive experiences with the existing cable system be-

In December 1998, the first expansion phase was complet-

tween the Reuter and Mitte substations prompted the decision

ed by taking into operation a powerful 380kV cable connec

to also use single-conductor oil-filled cables with direct jacket

tion between both city halves, i.e. between the Mitte and

cooling for the connection to the interconnected grid. Due to

Friedrichshain substations. Simultaneous with the creation of

the issues connected to the processing of substances con-

this section of the diagonal power link, the overhead line from

taining asbestos, it was necessary to search for a different

substation Marzahn was connected to the Neuenhagen sub-

material for the cooling pipe. In the end, high density poly

station. The completion of the fully connected diagonal power

ethylene (HDPE) was chosen.

link took place in November 2000.

Starting from the 380kV substation of Teufelsbruch, the

Technical specifications
Cable type
Conductor diameter
Inside width of oil channel
Jacket diameter
Outside diameter

380kV Diagonal Connection passes through the Berlin city

NKLDE2Y
1,200mm2 Cu
22mm
1,200mm Al
2

137mm

Nominal transmission capacity

1,120MVA

Cable weight

27.8kg/m

Max. delivery length

600m

centre to reach its destination at the Neuenhagen substation,

where it connects with the distribution grid of E.ON edis. Now
that energy is supplied on two different sides,
Berlin has a greater security of supply and more options to
exchange electricity.
The 380/110kV transformer substations Reuter, Mitte, Fried
richshain and Marzahn are located in Berlins load centres and
feed power into the secondary 110kV subnetworks. To limit
the short-circuit capacity at the distribution level, seven iso-

Given the operational properties of the cable system, including

the cooling system, and given the requirements for the durability
of the pipes, the choice fell on DIN 8074-compliant synthetic
pipes in the PN 10 nominal pressure range with an outside dia
meter of 315mm. Extensive field studies were carried out to
prove that HDPE was a suitable material for the cooling pipes and
that all necessary components were fit for a large-scale system.
The approx. 7.6km long 380kV cable route mainly follows
public roads. Along the route, 18 underground cable pits were
built, in which the separate cable sections of some 400 metres
each were connected with so-called cable joints. The accessible
concrete pits have inside dimensions of 8.0m x 3.4m x 4.0 m
(L x W x H). At the cable joints, the cooling water is pumped
through a bypass. The route also passes underneath two water
bodies, i.e. the Teufelsseekanal channel and the Havel river.

lated 110kV subnetworks were created.

8 50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection

50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection 9

First series of tests with

380kV XLPE cables and
components

how much free space needed to be reserved for the installation of the joints and whether the joints could be created
under building site conditions.
The required test voltage of 400kV was directly supplied to

Although polyethylene-insulated synthetic cables had been

the outdoor sealing ends of six cable systems, electrically

used at the 110kV level for years, there was no operational

connected in parallel, by a high voltage transformer. The three

experience with 380kV synthetic cables and their accesso-

cables were united into a single system using a switchgear

ries. Now that a decision needed to be reached on the use

sealing end in a gas-insulated switchgear equipped with isola-

of 380kV XLPE cables for the Berlin diagonal power link, it

tor switches and earth electrodes. It was established in such

became necessary to test type-approved cables and joint ac-

a way that if one or more cables were to fail, testing could still

cessories over a longer period of time. It was decided to have

continue with the remaining operational cables.

these tests carried out at the CESI testing institute in Milan.

During the one year test period, the test voltage of 400kV re-

The first and foremost objective of the long-term test was to

produced the behaviour of a cable system at nominal voltage

prove whether the cables, joints and switchgear and/or out-

over the course of some 50 years. The thermo-mechanical

door sealing ends were fit for use in operational conditions.

loads were created by filament currents, inductively applied

This also included testing their ageing and thermo-mechanical

using heating current transformers.

properties.

Over a heating period of 16 hours, each cable system

Additionally, results needed to be obtained regarding the

reached the maximum admissible conductor temperature

installation of separate cable sections (direct cable-laying in

of 90C at its hottest point. During the cooling period of 32

open trenches, pulling cables into pipes and installation in

hours, the cable returned to a conductor temperature of ap-

cable ducts). One of the research goals was to determine

proximately 30C. This process was repeated 182 times

Silicone stress cone

Compression component

High voltage electrode

Conductor joint

Insulating body
(epoxy resin)

Joint casing

XLPE cable

200
450
1.650
3.700

10 50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection

50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection 11

during the one-year testing period and the forces created in-

Testing was concluded with the lightning and switching

side the conductor directly influenced the joints. Due to the

impulse voltage tests.

temperature rise of 60K, all components of the cable system

were subject to extreme mechanical stress.
In the end, only one cable manufacturer fulfilled all test conditions. The joint used by this company was made from prefabricated and pretested slide-on elements.

Contrary to the first series of tests, where only one cable

manufacturer used a prefabricated and pretested cable joint,
now all participants in the test used this jointing technique.
Additionally, new measuring and sensor technology for partial
discharge measurement (PD measurement) was used for the
accessories.

Second series of tests under

special conditions
After the decision was made to establish an underground
connection between the substations of Mitte and Friedrichs
hain, a cable was installed inside a tunnel and a joint was
realised in a so-called cable pit for part of the experimental
set-up. The conditions for the construction of the system

As a result of the planned structural changes to the accessories, another five cable system manufacturers were able
to successfully prequalify themselves in the second series of
tests.
The positive results of the second series of tests showed that
synthetic cable technology is a reliable alternative for oil-filled
cable technology.

and the testing parameters were otherwise preserved.

Long-term test of 380 kV synthetic cables

Long-term test of 380 kV synthetic cables
Long-term
of 380 kV synthetic cables
CESI II test test
set-up
CESI II test set-up
CESI II test set-up
SF6 sealing end
SF6 sealing end
SF6 sealing end

Heating
Heating
Heating
transformers
transformers
transformers

Cable pit
Cable pit
Cable pit

Cable duct
Cable duct
Cable duct
Ventilation towers
Ventilation towers
Ventilation towers

Casing
Casing
Casing
Underground joints
Underground joints
Underground joints

Outdoor sealing end

Outdoor sealing end
Outdoor sealing end
Earth bank
Earth bank
Earth bank

SF6 switchgear
SF6 switchgear
SF6 switchgear

Thermally stable
Thermally stable
Thermally
foundationstable
materials
foundation materials
foundation materials

12 50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection

50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection 13

Lubmin

Partial discharge
measurement for commissioning

Wolmirstedt
Malchow
Teufelsbruch

380kV connections are crucial for the secure supply of elecused, the requirements for the testing and monitoring tech-

Malchow

Reuter

tricity. Because of this and the costs for the components

Charlottenburg
Mitte
Reuter 1

Reuter 2

nology are high.

Neuenhagen
Marzahn

Friedrichshain

Friedrichshain

Mitte 1 Mitte 2

Two new procedures for PD measurement were implement-

Wuhlheide

Wuhlheide

ed and tested for the first time, in cooperation with different

institutes of higher education.

Preilack

Thyrow

The newly developed measuring tools and methods make

it possible to test the joint accessories on site. The measuring system consists of a sensor that can be integrated in the
accessories. What is special about this system is that it enables the separation of high frequency signals, without having
to intervene in the cables or the joints insulation system.
The second measuring system is based on directional coupler technology. The sensor is able to determine the direction
of the partial discharge impulse. By placing a directional
coupler sensor on each side of a joint, i.e. to the left and
right of it, it is possible to ascertain whether the partial discharge signal is received directly from the joint or simply
passes through it.
The results of the partial discharge measurement showed that
this is a suitable tool to check the quality of the cable system
after mounting but prior to commissioning and to reveal errors
that might cause considerable damage under operational
conditions.

380-kV-Erdkabelsystem

380-kV-Freileitung

110-kV-Netz

Umspannwerke

220-kV-Freileitung

380kV connection between

the Mitte and Friedrichshain
substations through open
conventional tunnel construction
The required route, which followed the public roads wherever
possible, would have affected various large construction
projects in Berlin (Potsdamer Platz, government district, Fried
richstrae) and urban development areas in many places.
Moreover, extensive measures would have become necessary
in the inner city that would have severely hindered traffic.
In addition, the route required tunnelling underneath the
Landwehr Canal, both arms of the river Spree, the planned
mainline and local passenger railway tunnel as well as the
U-Bahn and S-Bahn lines. For technical reasons, a cable
tunnel was therefore already required in several spots, over
distances of some 100 metres, to accommodate the cable.
For that reason, the extent to which the planned 380kV cable
system could be constructed in a continuous tunnel structure
between both substations was researched in a feasibility
study. Based on the results of geological reports on exploratory drilling already carried out in the building plots as well as

14 50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection

50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection 15

Vertical cross-section of the tunnel system

between the Mitte and Friedrichshain substations
approx. 35 m
above NAP

Cable technology

approx. 49 m
approx. 36 m above NAP
approx. 35 m approx. 35 m
above NAP
above NAP
above NAP

Landwehr
Canal

The order for the 380kV XLPE cable was awarded to the
companies ABB and Siemens. Every 7.2 metres, the cables
were fixed inside the tunnel by means of brackets. Between

Spree

the mounting points, they are unsupported and held in place

1,900 m

1,600 m

1,150m

1,650 m
Length 6,300 m

by spacers. After installation, all cables are given a fire-proof

coating.

Boring direction

The conditions for awarding the contract to the XLPE cable

Substation Mitte
Shaft 1
Depth: 35 m

Shaft 2
Depth: 29 m

Shaft 3
Depth: 23 m

Shaft 4
Depth: 25 m

Substation F'hain
Shaft 5
Depth: 20 m

deep drilling, it was decided to construct a tunnel for the

entire trajectory.
The tunnel runs about 25 to 30 metres below ground level.
The outside diameter of the tunnel is about 3.6m, whereas
the inner diameter is approximately 3.0 metres. The length
of the tunnel is close to 6.3 kilometres. Compared to the
conventional construction method, this made it possible to
shorten the route by approximately 1.1km.
Three tunnelling machines were used simultaneously to dig
the tunnel. To this end, five shafts were made according to a
groundwater-conserving dredging process. Three of the shaft
structures served as entry shafts ( 13m) and the two other
ones were used as destination shafts ( 8m) to accommodate the tunnelling machines. The shafts and their construction sites require approx. 2,000m of space. The tunnel was
dug according to a boring technique that has been tested
worldwide. The separate tunnel sections were completed using the so-called tubbing method. This involved covering the
tunnel walls with separate prefabricated concrete components, the so-called tubbings, in the wake of the tunnel boring
machine. Six tubbings together form a 1.2 long ring. A complete ring weighs approx. 7.2 metric tonnes. In all, 31,700
tubbings were placed and 90,000m of soil were excavated.

manufacturers were the successful conclusion of the one-year

long-term test and passing the type test.

Two cable types will be used

Multiple sheath
cable 2XS(FL)2Y

Conductor diameter

1,600mm2 Cu

Jacket diameter

240mm

Outside diameter

Max. delivery length

1,600mm2 Cu
1,400mm2

134mm

150mm

1,100MVA

1,100MVA

approx. 27kg/m

approx. 28kg/m

750m

750m

Nominal transmission capacity

Cable weight

Corrugated metallic
sheath cable 2XKLD2Y

16 50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection

50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection 17

Quality control

Commissioning test

For in-process tests, it was necessary to cut out a 30m long

At the start of the commissioning test, a partial discharge

cable section every 5km during production and to mount a

measurement was performed on all accessories at 230kV

so-called cross-bonding joint onto it. The test installation was

(1.0 x U0). Subsequently, nominal current load cycles were

started up at 2 x U0 with heat cycles (8 hours of heating, 8

applied over a period of four weeks. This means the cables

hours of cooling, 8 hours of heating). A conductor tempera-

and their accessories were subjected to the same thermo-

ture of 90C (+5K/-0K) needed to be attained. Afterwards, a

mechanical stress they would otherwise undergo later, dur-

lightning impulse voltage test with 1,425kV (10 pos./10 neg.)

ing operation. At the same time, operational experience was

had to be carried out in heated state. The resistance to par-

gained with regard to the use of the forced-air ventilation

tial discharge, i.e. no discernible partial discharges on the test

system. Finally, a new partial discharge measurement was

subject, could only be proven at 1.5 x U0.

performed at 1.7 x U0.

During routine testing, each finished cable section was sub-

This test voltage of 400kV was provided by a resonance

jected to an AC voltage test for 10 hours at 2 x U0 before

testing facility.

delivery. No discernible internal partial discharges were

allowed to be observed during this test either. The conductor
resistance, the insulations cross-linking density and the edge
width and eccentricity of the insulation were also tested.
For the routine testing of the joint accessories, the resistance
to partial discharge needed to be proven at double the nominal voltage for 30 minutes.

Together with all quality control measures, the successfully

concluded commissioning test ensured that the two 380kV
XLPE cable systems met all requirements for use in this important part of the 380kV Diagonal Connection.
The 380kV cable connection was officially taken into operation on 7 December 1998.

The measures described above made it possible to ensure

that all supplied 380kV XLPE cables and their accessories
met their requirements for use in the grid. During the concluding commissioning test, the assembly quality could then be
guaranteed.

380kV transmission technology

Gas-insulated transmission
lines (GIL)
GIL differ from synthetic cables in their even lower transmission losses and their lower capacitive load. This way, capacitive current shim coils can be omitted.
The transmission distance of multiple kilometres and the large
volume of the greenhouse gas SF6 created legal issues with
regard to the approval procedure for the use of GIL.

18 50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection

50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection 19

The manufacturer of the transmission lines was obliged to

reduce the insulating gass percentage of SF6 below 20%.
A long-term test was performed for GIL with the precondition
that all system components passed their relevant tests.

Set-up and performance

of the test
Due to the limited time schedule for the connection between

The objective was to prove the suitability for use in the grid.

the Friedrichshain and Marzahn substations, the set-up of the

This particularly involved testing the operational suitability of

long-term test was a considerable challenge for GIL manufac-

the system components and the gas mixture as well as the

turer Siemens and the IPH testing institute. For the inclusion

thermo-mechanical properties of the transmission lines.

of the GIL technology in the relevant call for tenders for the
380kV connection transmission technology, the test needed

Test conditions of the 380kV GIL long-term test

Route length
Heating cycles 5h heating
7h cooling

to be planned, set up and performed within a single year.

approx. 60m

3,200A
480kV

(no voltage)
(no power)

Test duration

2,500h

The testing institute selected was IPH in Berlin. To simulate

realistic tunnel conditions, 18 concrete pipes were constructed
above ground at the IPH site for the planned tunnel boring.

(to earth)

These pipes formed a test tunnel of 72 metres in length. After

Switching impulse voltage (250/2,500s) 1,050kV (15 x pos., 15 x neg.)

conclusion of the test, the concrete pipes were disassembled

Lightning impulse voltage (1.2/50 s)

and used as components for the actual tunnel between the

AC voltage (1 min)

630kV

1,300kV (15 x pos., 15 x neg.)

AC voltage + PD measurement

480kV

(24h)

Arc fault test

50kAeff

(330ms)

Friedrichshain and Marzahn substations.

One of the essential points for the installation of a GIL line inside a tunnel is the compensation of the temperature-induced
change in length of the pipelines. At a temperature rise of
40K, the expansion of a 70m pipe approaches 7cm. The

Schematic diagram of a gas-insulated transmission line

expansion of the inner conductors is compensated using

so-called sliding contacts, while the expansion of the jacket
is nullified by axial compensators. An axial compensator
therefore needs to be installed between every two connection

Insulating gas mixture

points (fixed points) of the GIL jacket.

The test set-up was activated in April 1998. The complete

Aluminium
conductor

Post insulators

Aluminium alloy jacket

test was successfully concluded in September 1998.

20 50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection

50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection 21

Vertical cross-section of the tunnel system

between the Friedrichshain and Marzahn substations

Lubmin

Wolmirstedt

approx. 49m
above NAP

Malchow
Teufelsbruch
Malchow

Reuter
Charlottenburg
Mitte
Reuter 1

Reuter 2

Neuenhagen

approx. 52m
above NAP

2,200m

1,400m

approx. 57m
above NAP
approx. 50m
above NAP
1,600m

Marzahn
Friedrichshain

Friedrichshain

Mitte 1 Mitte 2

Wuhlheide

Boring direction

Wuhlheide

Length 5,200m

Preilack

Thyrow

380-kV-Erdkabelsystem

380-kV-Freileitung

110-kV-Netz

Umspannwerke

Substation F'hain
Shaft 5
Depth: 20 m

Shaft 6
Depth: 22m

Shaft 7
Depth: 19m

Substation Marzahn
Shaft 8
Depth: 16m

220-kV-Freileitung

380kV connection between

the Friedrichshain and Marzahn
substations
The fourth section of the 380kV diagonal power link connects
the substations of Friedrichshain and Marzahn.
Based on the good experience with the construction of the
earlier tunnel section, it was decided to continue the tunnel at
a depth of 15 to 25 metres below the surface.

Shaft S5, which had already been drilled, was used to connect the new tunnel system to the existing part and forms the
central point for the 380kV connections coming from Mitte
and Marzahn.
The locations of the additional shafts S6, S7 and S8, which
were necessary for the excavation of the three tunnel sections, were chosen to minimise the impact on local traffic.
Work was started on the three new shafts in September 1997.
During the creation of shaft S6 according to the approved
diaphragm wall method, shafts S7 and S8 were constructed

The tunnel is approximately 5.2km long. The first section,

above ground in armoured concrete and then lowered using

between shafts S5 and S6, was constructed using the tried

the caisson sinking method.

and tested tubbing method.

After tunnel construction was finished, shaft S7 was filled

For the second section, between shafts S6 and S8, the pipe

completely up to an emergency exit. Shafts S6 and S8 were

jacking technique was used because of the favourable subsoil

constructed in the same manner as shafts S1, S3 and S5.

conditions and the nearly straight trajectory of the route. The

These shafts provide access to and ventilation of the tunnel

tunnel pipes had an inner diameter of 3m, the same as for the

system during operation. The tunnel system was completed

previous connection.

in July 1999 as planned and released for follow-up works.

22 50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection

Tunnel system ventilation

For the installation of the cable in a continuous tunnel, the
ecological aspect needed to be respected. The groundwater
temperature, for instance, could not rise with more than 5K
over a distance of 3 metres of the tunnels outer wall. Accord
ing to calculations, the cable system could be operated without forced ventilation. The heat created during operation
would then be dissipated through the tunnels surroundings
and the cables themselves would not exceed the maximum

divided into six sections of 900m each for a total length of

admissible conductor temperature.

5.4km per circuit. The cable shields and jacket had to be

cross-bonded.

Schematic diagram of the forced ventilation of the tunnel system

Transformer substation
Air inlet

Transformer substation
Air outlet

Air inlet

Both cable systems are operated with two cross-bonding

sections each, earthed at each end of the main sections. The
cable-laying and mounting works commenced in July 1999.
The works went according to plan and were concluded in July
2000.
The commissioning and completion of the 380kV Diagonal
Connection took place on 6 November 2000.

Tunnel rail
Transmission technology
Companies from all European countries were able to tender
for all three transmission technologies. All offered solutions
were technically comparable. The decision in favour of synthetic cable technology was made based on economic points
of view.
The order was granted to the companies ABB (Sdkabel) and
Alcatel (NEXANS). Both cable manufacturers supplied a complete 380kV XLPE cable system. The 2XS (FL) 2Y multiple
sheath cable and the joint accessories with prefabricated
and pretested slide-on elements were used. The cable was

For the maintenance and monitoring of the operational system, an overhead monorail was installed along the connection
between the substations of Mitte and Friedrichshain. In addition, a rail antenna was installed for remote control, video signal transmission and voice communication. The rail consists
of a passenger car equipped with remote control, video cameras and a fire-fighting device. The entire tunnel rail system
also includes a material transporter and a rescue vehicle, both
of which can be linked to the passenger car if needed.
The tunnel rail makes both manned and unmanned inspection
tours possible.

24 50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection

50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection 25

Lubmin

50Hertz has various experiences

with the operation of cable
and overhead line systems

Wolmirstedt
Malchow
Teufelsbruch
Malchow

Reuter
Charlottenburg
Mitte
Reuter 1

Reuter 2

Neuenhagen
Marzahn

Natural disasters (storms, fires, floods etc.) often lead to over-

Friedrichshain

head line failures that disrupt operation and require adequate

Friedrichshain
Wuhlheide

Mitte 1 Mitte 2

repairs. One example is the storm Kyrill, which caused significant damage to the transmission grid in January 2007.

Wuhlheide

50Hertz needed 18 months to repair damage to cable sysPreilack

Thyrow

tems and connected switchgear and to take the necessary

steps to put everything back into operation.

380-kV-Erdkabelsystem

380-kV-Freileitung

110-kV-Netz

Umspannwerke

220-kV-Freileitung

380kV overhead
transmission link

This took a long time because it is difficult to determine the

cause of disturbances on an underground cable, which is not
easily accessible either. Furthermore, the delivery periods set
by cable system and switchgear manufacturers are quite long.

The final section of the diagonal power link to the Neuenhagen substation east of Berlin was realised as an overhead
line. The construction of the new overhead line inside Berlin
(route of approx. 12km) involved the renovation of four old
110kV and 220kV routes with a length of approx. 33km.
In March 1997, construction was started inside the city limits.
The project for the construction of the 12km long 380kV
overhead line was finished in December 1997.

Operational experience with

extra high voltage cable systems
Cable damage
Even in the Berlin cable tunnel, the only one of its kind
throughout the world, major incidents with service interruptions occurred. In 2009, for instance, a structural defect
caused a breach in the insulation layer of a cable sealing end,
which exploded. As a result, the switchgear was damaged by
arcing and fire. The decontamination and repair works took
10 months to complete.

26 50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection

50Hertz The 380kV Diagonal Connection 27

Incidents in tunnel section

Substation
Wolmirstedt

Substation
Teufelsbruch

Substation
Reuter

TB

Substation
Mitte

RE

Substation
Friedrichshain

MI

1994

1978

Substation
Marzahn

FRH
1998

Substation
Neuenhagen

MZA
IPH

2000

1998

27/01/2006
(1)

(2)

(1) Teufelsseekanal tunnel: 0.32 km

(2) Havel crossing tunnel: 0.52 km
Overhead line

1.1 km on Berlin territory

Oil-filled cable
7.6 km

(3)
(3) Schlosspark tunnel: 1.15 km
(4) Spree tunnel: 0.27 km
Overhead line
2.6 km

Oil-filled cable

The average total availability of the Berlin EHV cable systems

obtained by comparing all breakdowns to the operating time
of the systems is only about 90%.
In other parts of the grid more specifically, the part of the
existing 220kV Marzahn-Thyrow-Wuhlheide overhead line
that was replaced with underground cables in 2007 two
cable sealing ends at the transition of the overhead line to the
underground cable system already exploded after they were
put into operation (on 1 January and 1 February 2008, to be
precise). The repairs and the corresponding construction of
concrete casings around the sealing ends were only completed in September 2009.

(4)

8.1 km

05/11/2009

Tunnel: 6.3 km

Tunnel: 5.2 km

XLPE cable
6.5 km

XLPE cable
5.4 km

Overhead line

7.0 km on Berlin territory

Use of cable solutions

Today, underground cable-laying is standard at low and
medium voltage levels. It is also used more and more often
at the 110kV voltage level, at which it can be considered
state-of-the-art. At the 380kV and 220kV voltage levels, this
technology is an exceptional solution still under development,
with a low degree of reliability. So far, initial feasibility studies
have established no added value for underground cable systems in nature reserves, as they have a substantial impact on
the environment, especially as regards the soil and water
balance. Nevertheless, the realisation of cable systems in
densely built-up areas can increase acceptance by the citizens involved. In this context, finding suitable space for cable
systems and the increased social costs are considered the
main problems. Moreover, new 380kV underground cables
only have a clear legal basis as part of pilot projects of the
Energy Line Extension Act (EnLAG).

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Contact details
50Hertz Transmission GmbH
Eichenstrasse 3A 12435 Berlin
T +49(0)305150-0
F +49(0)305150-4477
info@50hertz.com
Impressum
Publisher: 50Hertz Transmission GmbH
Picture credits: Andreas Teich
Concept and layout:
DreiDreizehn advertising agency, Berlin