German steelmaker Salzgitter AG has gained additional electricity supply capacity following the commissioning of a new 380 kV power line by transmission system operator TenneT Germany, supporting its transition toward low-carbon steel production.
The approximately 10 km overhead line connects the Liedingen and Bleckenstedt/Süd substations in Lower Saxony. Planning began in May 2021, followed by substation construction in September 2023 and overhead line construction in April 2024.
The new infrastructure forms part of the wider Ostfalen Axis project, covering approximately 100 km, and is designed to strengthen power supply reliability for the Salzgitter industrial site and surrounding region.
The development is particularly important for Salzgitter's SALCOS decarbonization program, which aims to replace conventional steelmaking processes with lower-carbon technologies. The program's first phase is expected to be completed in 2027, when new facilities, including an electric arc furnace (EAF), are scheduled to enter operation.
According to Salzgitter Flachstahl, the existing 220 kV grid would not have been sufficient to meet the company's growing electricity requirements over the long term. The new connection provides additional grid capacity needed for industrial electrification and future steel production.
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