Rhine-Main-Link
In what form (ecopoints, credit, replacement tree planting) will the number of felled trees be compensated? How will the replacement trees be planted?
The type of compensation is being coordinated with the Lower Nature Conservation Authority and is still being clarified.
Are habitat trees excluded from the felling?
In principle, this is planned. If this is not possible, appropriate compensatory measures will be taken in consultation with the Lower Nature Conservation Authority.
Is soil damage to be expected as a result of the construction site facilities and the construction of the access roads?
If possible, the existing road network will initially be used for the construction site facilities, so-called BE areas, and the necessary access roads. In addition, construction roads and access areas will be created in consultation with the owners and under the supervision of the pedological construction supervision team to protect the soil as much as possible. The construction areas are designed in such a way that the loads are well distributed. Gravel layers or load distribution plates are suitable here. The load distribution plates are removed again just as carefully, and the gravel layers are usually also removed again, unless a different agreement is reached in consultation with the owners.
How is the ground restored after the construction site has been cleared?
The removal of the BE areas is monitored. Any damage caused to the land will be regulated accordingly in consultation with the affected parties and replaced economically.
Is excessive noise to be expected? - What immission values are you assuming?
The drilling equipment is powered by an internal combustion engine (comparable to a truck), which is a source of noise. This can therefore lead to corresponding emissions.
To what extent are the concerns of ASF (African Swine Fever) taken into account?
There is a concept of measures for this.
Is the breeding and setting season observed?
Yes, this will be observed. In addition, the drilling will be monitored by an ecological construction supervisor. Drilling during the breeding and settling season will only take place where, after several preliminary inspections by the ecological construction monitoring team, any impact on the affected species can be ruled out.
Will there be a public information event on the planned measures?
We currently have no plans for this, especially with regard to the subsoil investigations. We are in constant communication with the district town of Hofheim am Taunus and the Main-Taunus district about the measures and consider this to be sufficient, especially as the press has already reported on the project several times for the general public.
Where will drilling take place?
Along the route to be investigated in accordance with the published route corridor. There is a specific grid that we have to adhere to.
When is drilling carried out?
Drilling generally takes place all year round. In forested areas, however, we only drill between October 1 and the end of March.
What is the difference between the test drillings and the actual work?
The test drillings and ground investigations are necessary in order to be able to technically assess whether and with which construction method we can bring the underground cables into the ground.
What equipment will be used?
Drilling equipment weighing 20 to 30 tons is used, and we also have to use "service vehicles" (usually wheel loaders, trucks, dumpers).
How many trees are felled?
We want to avoid felling trees. Should it be necessary to fell trees, this will be agreed with the forestry department. However, we cannot give a number of trees as it is an ongoing process in which the number can change regularly.
Who is working on the boreholes?
On the construction site: the drilling team (drilling rig operator with one or two drilling assistants), subcontractors for borehole tests and drilling supervision.
What restrictions are there for recreationists? How long will they remain in place?
Depending on the location and technical requirements of the borehole, barriers, road closures and constrictions may be necessary for the duration of the BGU measures. This can lead to restrictions. Noise emissions may also occur (see above).
Hofheim rejects converter sites
The Rhine-Main Link is one of the central grid expansion projects of the energy transition. The company Amprion has been entrusted with its implementation. The high-performance energy corridor is expected to bring up to eight gigawatts of renewable wind power from Lower Saxony via North Rhine-Westphalia directly to Hesse from 2033 and strengthen the Rhine-Main economic region there. The electricity grid expansion project bundles four direct current underground cable projects into one energy corridor.
After the company Amprion submitted application documents to the Federal Network Agency at the end of June 2024, comments and information on regional circumstances were discussed at the application conference in September 2024. A delegation from the district town of Hofheim am Taunus also took part and put forward the town's concerns. Hofheim rejects the converter sites in the urban area envisaged by Amprion in the application documents. From Hofheim's point of view, there is an alternative location at the Wiesbadener Kreuz with a connection to the Marxheim substation. The impact on the surrounding area and nature would be significantly less there.
Drilling in the Hofheim forest area
Once the drilling permits have been issued by the authorities (forestry and nature conservation), work will begin in the forest area in the northern part of Hofheim on October 1, 2025.
The work is to take place simultaneously and over a large area, distributed over the entire working area (Kapellenberg/Canyonland/Schwarzbachaue, allotment gardens and adjacent areas).
Forestry work (pruning) and road construction work (civil engineering) are required in advance, particularly on the access roads and in the area of the construction site where the drilling equipment will be placed. The construction vehicles use the public transport network for as long as possible to reach the drilling points.
Road closures may be necessary for the access routes and drilling work itself.
Alternative proposals are on the table
Although the district town is in a constructive exchange with Amprion, it is by no means satisfied with the communicated planning. As part of the planning approval procedure, it has therefore sent an application to the Federal Network Agency by email and by post in accordance with Section 21 NABEG (2023) to extend the scope of the investigation for the preparation of the planning approval documents. This formally describes the already known four-point catalog, which the district town had already submitted at the application conference, with demands from the district town. The main points are as follows:
The proposed converter sites will not be implemented.
The alternative location at Wiesbadener Kreuz will be used.
The underground cable between Langenhain and Kriftel and beyond the Bauerlöcher Wiesen will be routed using a closed construction method.
Natural areas worthy of protection, such as the Bauerlöcher Wiesen, will remain untouched.
Citizens have until October 1, 2024 to submit suggestions and comments on Amprion's application for the planning approval decision. This can be done by email to vorhaben82(at)bnetza.de.
The district town informs the citizens
The district town has already created its own information service for citizens. At the event in the Hofheim town hall on September 17, 2024, the further procedure, including a legal assessment by the commissioned law firm W2K, was discussed in addition to a presentation of the project. There was also an opportunity to put questions to Amprion, which also took part in the event.
The presentations from this event are available for download below.
- Amprion Präsentation Untersuchungsrahmen Rhein Main Link (PDF (4,66 MB))
- Bürgerinfoveranstaltung Rhein-Main-Link 17. September 2024 - Präsentation Amprion (PDF (1,35 MB))
- Bürgerinfoveranstaltung Rhein-Main-Link 17. September 2024 - Präsentation W2K (PDF (927,73 KB))
- Rhein-Main-Link – Antrag auf Erweiterung des Untersuchungsrahmens (PDF (886,17 KB))