Press release Bonn, 26 March 2021 Page 1 of 2

Bundesnetzagentur Full SuedLink route corridor decided Tulpenfeld 4 53113 Bonn Jochen Homann: "Major step for the energy transition" bundesnetzagentur.de twitter.com/bnetza The Bundesnetzagentur has today determined the route corridor for both B sections of the Suedlink direct current transmission line. The approved Press contact person sections run between Scheeßel and Bad Gandersheim/Seesen in the state of Fiete Wulff Lower Saxony. Projects 3 and 4 of the SuedLink are being implemented Head of Press and Public together in a "main route" in these sections. Relations

Tel. +49 228 14 - 9921 "The general route of the SuedLink has now been decided, so we have got one of [email protected] the key projects of the energy transition underway," said Bundesnetzagentur President Jochen Homann. "We welcome the intensive participation of the public and are pleased to be able to include two suggestions from the consultation."

The route corridor that has been determined is about 190 km long, begins in the north-east of Scheeßel and passes to the west of Hanover. In the district of Hildesheim, it runs through the Leine valley from Freden. It joins the route corridor of section C, which had already been determined, near Einbeck.

In its decision-making process, the Bundesnetzagentur took into consideration two alternatives that arose from the consultation involving authorities and members of the public. South of Seelze, the route corridor runs between Lathwehren and Kirchwehren (Seelze town) and is joined with existing overhead lines north of Göxe (Barsinghausen town). From Freden, the route corridor runs through the Leine valley to Einbeck-Volksen.

The decision has been published at www.netzausbau.de/vorhaben3-b and www.netzausbau.de/vorhaben4-b. Bonn, 26 March 2021 Page 2 of 2

Next step: planning approval procedure Once the federal sectoral planning has been completed, the next step is the planning approval procedure. In this stage of the approval process, the Bundesnetzagentur determines the exact route within the route corridor. The public will be given every opportunity to get involved in this part of the process, too. The Bundesnetzagentur expects the transmission system operators to apply for planning approval in the near future.

Background to the SuedLink The SuedLink is intended to transport offshore wind power from the North Sea to the densely populated regions of southern Germany along the Main and Neckar rivers. The project is being implemented jointly by the transmission system operators TenneT TSO GmbH and TransnetBW GmbH.

The SuedLink consists of two projects and will start in Wilster and Brünsbüttel. Its end points are the network nodes of Bergrheinfeld and Großgartach. Large parts of the two projects will be planned and built in parallel. The SuedLink is divided into several planning sections. The project will use underground cables with capacity of 2 GW each. It is planned to go into operation in 2026.

You can watch videos explaining the expansion of the electricity network at www.youtube.com/netzausbau.

The Bundesnetzagentur is an authority under the responsibility of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Its core tasks include supervising the energy, telecommunications, postal and railway markets.

As part of its mandate, the Bundesnetzagentur ensures that as many undertakings as possible can use the infrastructure in these sectors so that consumers benefit from competition and favourable prices.

The authority employs over 2,900 people at its headquarters in Bonn and Mainz and its 46 regional offices.