Balzers line relocation
Swissgrid is investigating whether and how the extra-high-voltage line in Balzers can be relocated. The line supplies electricity to the Principality of Liechtenstein.
Your contact for this grid project
Overview
The transmission line in the municipal region of Balzers is part of the existing, roughly 73 kilometre, 220 kilovolt transmission line from the Bonaduz (GR) substation to the Rüthi (SG) and Meiningen (AT) substations. The municipality of Balzers (FL) has indicated that it will not extend the expiring transit agreement. For that reason, investigations are in progress to establish whether or how the existing line through the municipality of Balzers can be relocated.
The Rüthi – Bonaduz extra-high-voltage line ensures the security of supply for the Principality of Liechtenstein via the switching substations in Meiningen and Bürs. The Principality of Liechtenstein's supply region is connected to the Swiss transmission grid via the Montlingen switching substation.
Project
Swissgrid has prepared technical variants in cooperation with a Liechtenstein engineering firm. According to Swissgrid, three variants can be realised:
- Laying underground on a section along field paths in the area of the current overhead line
- Relocation of the current overhead line to the west between the Brühl district and the farms
- Retaining existing overhead line
Milestones
Schedule in the optimal case (without appeal to the courts):
| 2019 | Detailed elaboration of the feasible options in cooperation with a Liechtenstein engineering office. |
| 2020 | Information event for authorities, associations and the general public |
| 2021 | Start of the planning approval procedure |
| from 2021 | Construction project |
The line to be relocated in Balzers is part of the Rüthi – Bonaduz line. The line will be constructed for 380 kilovolts, but will only be operated at 220 kilovolts. A 380 kilovolt Rüthi – Bonaduz connection is no longer contained in the «Strategic Grid 2025», as it is not necessary to ensure the security of supply until 2025. The 220 kilovolt connections are adequate for transporting the energy from the existing power plants.
«Balzers line relocation» Project Advisory Council
Every project allows design latitude. When the members of the Project Advisory Council express their opinions candidly, point out options for action and thus make constructive contributions to the discussion, the foundation is laid for applying this design latitude to best effect. In this sense, the Project Advisory Council is a consultative forum in which mutual understanding is promoted and different concerns can be raised directly.
The Project Advisory Council was constituted on 21 November 2014 and will be gradually expanded as soon as the project enters a new phase. The Project Advisory Council was suspended for the duration of the preliminary project, as the Monitoring Group deployed by the public authorities is active. Swissgrid will once again utilise the Project Advisory Council in the construction project in order to promote the exchange of information between the municipalities, associations and those directly affected.
The following persons are members of the Project Advisory Council:
| Municipality of Balzers | Hansjörg Büchel, Head of the Municipality |
| Municipality of Balzers | Dominik Frommelt, Municipal Councillor |
| Municipality of Fläsch | René Pahud, Chairman of the Municipality |
| Balzers Community Association | Silvio Wille |
| Landowner in Balzers | Monika Büchel |
| Landowner in Balzers | Anton Vogt |
| Landowner in Balzers | Arthur Willi |
| Liechtensteinische Kraftwerke | Jürg Tinner |
| Law firm Wolff Gstöhl Bruckschweiger | Dr Peter Wolff, Lawyer |
| Swissgrid | Jan Schenk |
