German TSOs Receive First 525 kV HVDC Converter Transformers at SuedOstLink and SuedLink Terminal Hubs
German transmission system operators 50Hertz, TenneT, and TransnetBW have received the first consignment of single-phase 525 kV DC converter transformers at ...
German TSOs Receive First 525 kV HVDC Converter Transformers at SuedOstLink and SuedLink Terminal Hubs
German transmission system operators 50Hertz, TenneT, and TransnetBW have received the first consignment of single-phase 525 kV DC converter transformers at the Wolmirstedt and Isar converter stations, marking a major milestone for the SuedOstLink and SuedLink HVDC corridors that will transfer 4 GW of northern wind power to Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
- Publish date: 2026-09-27
- Category: Transformers & Grid
- Original source: 50Hertz, TenneT TSO & TransnetBW
- Reading time: 5 min
Heavy-Haul Logistics Across Germany’s Inland Waterways
Weighing over 340 metric tons each during transport, the 525 kV converter transformers were transported via inland barges along the Elbe and Danube rivers, followed by specialized 24-axle self-propelled modular transporters (SPMT) over reinforced heavy-haul road corridors.
At Wolmirstedt (Saxony-Anhalt) and the Isar substation site (Bavaria), the units were skidded into dedicated fireproof acoustic blast bays equipped with automatic deluging and synthetic ester retention basins.
Engineered for ±525 kV Modular Multilevel Converters
Manufactured by Siemens Energy and Hitachi Energy, these converter transformers bridge the 400 kV AC grid and the ±525 kV DC valve halls. They feature high-dielectric pressboard insulation barriers and electrostatic shields capable of enduring combined continuous DC stress and AC switching harmonics.
Vacuum on-load tap changers (OLTC) with digital motor drives enable rapid voltage adaptation across 35 tap positions, ensuring seamless regulation under volatile renewable generation profiles.
Completing the Backbone of Germany’s Energiewende
Together, SuedLink (Brunsbüttel to Leingarten/Großgartach) and SuedOstLink (Wolmirstedt to Isar) will provide 4 GW of controllable bidirectional transmission capacity, drastically cutting redispatch and curtailment payments.
Following high-voltage oil impregnation and nitrogen dry-out verification, site acceptance testing (SAT) will proceed through early 2027 ahead of trial system commissioning.
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