High-voltage substation Ham

Elia is installing new electrical installations at various high-voltage substations in the region around Ghent, including the high-voltage substation in Ham. It is necessary to adapt the high-voltage substations in the region to meet the needs of the future. With the energy transition, higher electricity consumption is expected in the region. For example, because of the increase in the number of electric cars, the use of heat pumps and the electrification of businesses. With the renewal of the high voltage substation in Ham, Elia will be able to continue to guarantee electricity supply in the region in the future.

Elia is going to carry out the following activities:

• Replacement of the existing transformer
  A transformer converts voltage from a higher to lower level and vice versa. A new transformer will ensure that Elia can convert high-voltage electricity (36 kV) to medium voltage (12 kV). Distribution system operator Fluvius will bring this electricity to homes and businesses in the region.
• Relocation of the emergency generator
• Installation of new switching equipment

This is similar to the electricity distribution box in a house, but then on a much larger scale. The cable bundles between the Ham and Sint-Amandsberg high-voltage substations are deduplicated.

These works are part of the Ghent East project (Gent Oost).

• End of 2022: submission of environmental permit application
• Early 2023: information market
• Early 2024: start of works
• End of 2026: end of works

• Information sheet - Noise in the vicinity of high-voltage substations (in Dutch)
• Information sheet - What is a high-voltage substation? (in Dutch)