Schelle-Malderen-Mechelen

Dismantling high-voltage lines, upgrading high-voltage substations and laying an underground cable connection in the Schelle-Malderen-Mechelen area.

Security of supply in the Schelle-Malderen-Mechelen area

From 2017 to 2022, Elia will be working on four sub-projects in the area around Schelle, Malderen and Mechelen: dismantling the 70 kV overhead line between Schelle and Mechelen, upgrading the high-voltage substations in Schelle, Malderen and Tisselt, laying a 150 kV underground cable connection between Malderen and Mechelen, and dismantling the 70 kV overhead line between Malderen and Mechelen. By carrying out this work, Elia is guaranteeing security of supply in the Schelle-Malderen-Mechelen area.

  • texteIn the interest of society

    Work on the high-voltage grid in the Schelle-Malderen-Mechelen area is necessary for three reasons:

    • Two 70 kV lines have reached the end of their service lives

    The 70 kV line between Schelle and Mechelen is almost a century old and the 70 kV line between Malderen and Mechelen dates from 1932.

    • New 150 kV cable to ensure security of supply

    A new 150 kV underground cable connection between Malderen and Mechelen will replace the 70 kV overhead line between Malderen and Mechelen. Since the new cable’s voltage level is higher, it will guarantee security of supply in the future too.

    • Work on the high-voltage substations to make grid upgrades possible

    The high-voltage substations in Schelle, Malderen and Tisselt need to be upgraded to improve electricity transmission in the Mechelen area.

  • texteThe route
    • Dismantling of the 70 kV Schelle-Mechelen overhead line 

    In 2017, the 16-kilometre overhead line through Schelle, Niel, Aartselaar, Rumst and Mechelen was dismantled and a total of 82 pylons were demolished. The line passed through the municipalities of Schelle, Niel, Aartselaar, Rumst and Mechelen.

    • Upgrade of three 70 kV high-voltage substations in Schelle, Malderen and Tisselt

     This work will take place in Schelle, Malderen and Tisselt was completed in 2020.

    • Laying of the new 150 kV Malderen-Tisselt-Mechelen cable 

    This new 150 kV underground cable will pass through the municipalities of Londerzeel, Willebroek, Puurs, Kapelle-op-den-Bos and Mechelen. However, the connection will continue to take the form of an overhead line between Leest and Mechelen. Elia is building a transition pylon in Leest to connect the underground cable with the overhead line. The new underground high-voltage connection was commissioned in autumn 2020.

    • Dismantling  of the 70 kV Malderen-Mechelen overhead line

    This line also passes through Londerzeel, Willebroek, Kapelle-op-den-Bos and Mechelen. The pylons will start to be dismantled in March 2021. More information can be found in the 'Schedule' section.

  • environnementEnvironment

    Even as early on as the design and study phase for a project’s route and implementation method, Elia thinks about how the project will affect people, the environment and the local area. With this in mind, a number of nuisance limitation measures have been put in place for the Schelle-Malderen-Mechelen project.

    • Elia is committed to minimising the duration of the work and the amount of space affected (work areas).
    • After work is completed, the land is always restored to its original state on the basis of a survey.
    • Elia only carries out work during the day, so no depots or sites are lit up at night.
    • Elia agrees specific access routes with the municipal authorities and the local police with a view to spreading out and limiting site traffic.
    • If local residents are set to experience a temporary increase in disruption for a specific reason, Elia or its subcontractors always send out individual letters to those affected to notify them.
    • If normal traffic has to be diverted, the diversions are agreed with the road authority (the municipality or the Flemish Region) and clearly communicated to local residents.
    • Elia keeps local residents informed of the project schedule and upcoming phases by publishing a digital newsletter and posting the latest information on its website.
  • Planning 

    Sub-project 1: Sub-project 1: dismantling of 70-kV overhead line between Schelle and Mechelen

    • Started in spring 2017
    • Completed in March 2019

    Sub-project 2: upgrading of three 70-kV high-voltage substations in Schelle, Malderen and Tisselt 

    • Started in spring 2017
    • Completed in mid-2020

    Sub-project 3: laying of a 150-kV underground cable connection between Malderen, Tisselt and Mechelen

    • Started in March 2019
    • Completed in autumn 2020
    • Subsequent road repairs by the municipality: March 2021

    Sub-project 4: dismantling of 70-kV overhead line between Malderen and Mechelen

    The line will be dismantled in two phases:

    Removal of the conductors:

    • Scheduled start date for this phase: spring 2021
    • Duration of the work: 7 months

    Dismantling of the pylons and foundations:

    • Scheduled start date for this phase: spring 2022
    • End of works : autumn 2023
  • documentsDocuments

News

12 September 2023

Demolition of the 70kV high-voltage line between Malderen and Mechelen

The last pylon of the high-voltage line between Malderen and Mechelen was demolished in Leest near Mechelen yesterday. At the beginning of April 2023, Elia started the further demolition of the 50 remaining pylons on this route. The electricity cables themselves were removed back in 2021 and replaced with underground cables.

04 April 2023

Further demolition of the 70kV high-voltage line between Malderen and Mechelen

As from 3 April, Elia will continue with the demolition of the high-voltage pylons on the route between Malderen and Mechelen. Last year, a number of pylons had already been removed, and now it is the turn of the 50 remaining ones. The electricity cables themselves were removed back in 2021 and replaced with underground cables. The high-voltage grid operator wants the work to be completed by this autumn.



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