Wilsele-Pellenberg-Tienen

Elia is laying an underground cable connection between the existing high-voltage substation in Wilsele and a transition substation being built on the border between Kessel-Lo and Pellenberg. The overhead high-voltage line between Tienen and Kessel-Lo will be dismantled. The work is taking place for two reasons:

• Security of supply for Pellenberg and Leuven
  Pellenberg and, by extension, the greater Leuven area must continue to be supplied with the power they need. By laying new 70-kV underground cables, Elia is ensuring that security of supply will continue to be guaranteed in the years to come and the grid will be able to cope with future energy demand.
• Existing 70-kV line at the end of its service life
  The high-voltage line currently running between Tienen and Kessel-Lo is coming to the end of its service life. The capacity on this overhead line will be replaced by the new underground electricity cables that Elia is laying between Wilsele and Pellenberg. In due course, Elia will dismantle the old high-voltage line between Tienen and Pellenberg.  

Wilsele-Pellenberg underground cable connection

The route of the new 70-kV underground electricity cables is 7 kilometres long. Starting from the high-voltage substation in Wilsele (Aarschotsesteenweg), the cable connection runs along the Leuven-Mechelen railway line, Eénmeilaan, Domeinstraat, Genadeweg, Schoolbergenstraat, Kortrijksestraat, Meugenslaan, Wimmershofpad and Kamperfoelieweg, up to the transition substation being built in Pellenberg. 

Dismantling of the Kessel-Lo – Tienen high-voltage line 
Once the underground electricity cables between Wilsele and Pellenberg are up and running, Elia will start dismantling the 70-kV overhead line between Kessel-Lo and Tienen. This line passes through Pellenberg, Kerkom and Vissenaken. A total of 94 pylons will be removed along the entire route.

Elia always bears the local area in mind when it carries out work. It is taking a number of measures to minimise disruption during the work. 

• Elia will work in phases to limit the duration and scale of the impact on the surrounding area.
• Homes and businesses will remain accessible at all times while the work is under way.
• Work will not be performed during the night, so there will be no depots or sites lit up at night-time.
• Site vehicles will use the shortest, safest and most accessible routes.
• Possible diversions will be discussed with the relevant authorities and announced to local residents in advance.
• Workers will use wooden frames/gantries or cranes when removing the electric wires in order to minimise the impact of the project on the surrounding area and local residents.
• Pedestrians and cyclists will be able to pass the worksites safely at all times.
• Once work is complete, the worksites will be restored to their original state.

• July 2018:  End of permit process.
• October 2018: Start of work on new transition substation in Pellenberg
• November 2018: Start of work on Wilsele-Pellenberg underground cable connection
• December 2020: End of work on Wilsele-Pellenberg underground cable connection
• Spring 2021: End of work on new transition substation in Pellenberg
• Summer 2021: Start of dismantling of overhead line between Kessel-Lo and Tienen