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Protests in Northern Hesse: Construction of SuedLink meets with great resistance!
Construction of the controversial SuedLink power line begins on September 15, 2025 in Bad Sooden-Allendorf, resistance is growing in the region.
Protests in Northern Hesse: Construction of SuedLink meets with great resistance!
Construction of the controversial SuedLink power line officially began today in Bad Sooden-Allendorf. Economics Minister Kaweh Mansoori (SPD) is expected at the ceremonial opening, and the signs could not be more different. While the state government in Hesse sees the project as one of the central steps in the energy transition, there is also massive resistance among residents.
The line will run an impressive distance of around 66 kilometers from Neu-Eichenberg to the Hesse-Thuringia state border near Herleshausen, and the entire SuedLink route covers around 700 kilometers. This infrastructure project, implemented by TransnetBW and TenneT, is intended to link northern Germany's wind-rich regions with the electricity needs in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
A deep divide between supporters and opponents
Despite the large-scale plans, many residents fear significant burdens from the construction work, which is expected to last around two years. Noise from construction machinery and heavy goods transport are just some of the concerns. The possible destruction of nature in this holiday region is viewed particularly critically, as a channel up to two meters deep and 40 meters wide is to be created for cable routing.
Critics have already loudly expressed their displeasure and doubt the benefits of this route for the region. There have been repeated protests in Bad Sooden-Allendorf, most recently in July 2025. A central argument of the opponents is the possible threat to the spa town's healing springs, especially from earth shifts that could affect the quality of the spa.
Background on the energy transition and grid expansion
The SuedLink route is part of a comprehensive strategy for implementing the energy transition in Germany, which focuses on the expansion of renewable energies and the stability of the electricity grid. With the “System Stability Roadmap”, the federal government has formulated long-term goals to ensure safe and robust operation of the power grids, such as this Federal Ministry of Economics explained.
The accelerated expansion of wind and solar energy means that network operators and market participants have to meet new requirements. In view of the changes, close cooperation between the network operators is essential in order to guarantee the system services that were previously mainly provided by conventional power plants.
Although the construction of the SuedLink route offers hope for a greener future for many, there remains great skepticism among those affected. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop on site and whether the concerns of residents will be heard.