Underground cables in service

Once the underground cable system has been installed, the land above the cables can once again be used for agricultural purposes—with minor restrictions within the protected zones.

To ensure the uninterrupted operation of the power connection, no buildings or deep-rooted trees and shrubs may be located within designated protected zones above the underground cable route. Animals can continue to graze and fields can be cultivated. Normal agricultural use is possible again. The protected zones are marked by signposts along the route.

Soil Warming

With our ALEGrO underground cable route, which has been in operation since late 2020, we were able to document the effects of underground cables on soil under real-world conditions. After one year of monitoring soil temperature and moisture levels in the route area and the adjacent control area at a total of four locations along the ALEGrO underground cable connection, the results show that no negative operational impacts on soil functions and agricultural yields are to be expected.

The actual warming of the cables and the surrounding soil depends on various technical and site-specific factors and therefore varies considerably. Based on current knowledge, the anticipated additional thermal emissions during the operation of the cable systems are expected to have only minor effects on the upper soil layers up to a depth of 60 cm from the top of the ground (the main root zone and water uptake of crops) during normal operation.

The expected impacts on the soil, soil organisms, the soil water balance, and agricultural use thus correspond to the impacts caused by direct solar radiation, fluctuating outdoor temperatures, and other climatic and weather influences.