Building permit for Ultranet: Construction work will start in the Main-Taunus in 2026!

Building permit for Ultranet: Construction work will start in the Main-Taunus in 2026!

The planned construction work for the Ultranet direct current line in the Main-Taunus district is now in the starting blocks. With the final building permit issued by the Federal Network Agency at the end of October 2025, Amprion GmbH can now move on to concrete planning. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2026 and is expected to end with the line being put into operation at the end of 2026.

Ultranet will be a 340-kilometer-long high-voltage line that will transport wind power from the North Sea to southwest Germany. This significant infrastructure measure is not only important for energy supply, but is also intended to contribute to the energy transition by connecting green electricity from the north with demand-based consumption centers in the south. The cable is laid over existing masts parallel to existing AC cables.

Approvals and Conflicts

The approved route mainly refers to the section from Koblenz to the Marxheim substation and also includes the areas of Niederjosbach, Bremthal, Wildsachsen and Langenhain. In the past, however, there have been conflicts with the communities of Hofheim and Eppstein. There were concerns about the required access rights to municipal properties, which gave rise to disputes. The city of Eppstein ultimately had to give in after threats from the Federal Network Agency when Amprion refused to change the route.

It is planned that 80 percent of the existing masts will be suitable for construction, while 37 will need to be increased and seven will need to be completely replaced. In addition, the insulators on the other masts must be replaced to ensure the safety and functionality of the line.

Construction schedule and next steps

Construction work is expected to begin in March 2026. The north of the section near Koblenz and on the Lahn will serve as the starting point. Amprion has announced that it will keep the affected residents informed about the individual measures and the progress of the construction work.

The implementation of this large-scale project is a significant step towards a more sustainable energy supply in Germany. The expansion of the Ultranet line not only supports the energy transition, but also realizes a long-standing vision for a sustainable infrastructure in Germany. “There is something to be done,” comments a spokesman for Amprion, “and we have a good knack for tackling this task.”