Zuid Limburg

Elia is doing grid upgrading work in the South Limburg region to prepare the electricity grid there for the future. This is necessary due to rapidly-increasing national demand for renewable energy from both companies and the general public. Various 70-kV connections and substations in the region are approaching the end of their service life and need to be replaced. The 150-kV high-voltage grid in South Limburg is under pressure for three reasons as well: the two new gas-fired power plants in Flémalle and Seraing, the uncertainty of the nuclear phase-out and long-term maintenance of the 380-kV lines. To be able to transport more electricity, Elia has no option but to make changes to the current 70-kV high-voltage grid in the Haspengouw region.

To be more specific, Elia will create a new underground electricity connection (150 kV) between Sint-Truiden (Brustem), Borgloon and Riemst (Herderen). Later, it will also dismantle the overhead high-voltage line (70 kV) between Sint-Truiden, Borgloon, Tongeren and Ans. In turn, the overhead high-voltage line (70 kV) between Brustem, Alken and Godsheide will be upgraded to 150 kV. The high-voltage substation in Sint-Truiden (70 kV) will be dismantled, while the high-voltage substations in Alken, Tongeren and Borgloon will be upgraded from 70 kV to 150 kV. The existing 150-kV high-voltage substation in Brustem will be expanded, like the one in Godsheide:

Creating underground 150-kV cable connection between the high-voltage substations in Sint-Truiden and Riemst

To meet the region’s increasing demand for energy, a 150-kV underground cable will run approximately 38 km, between Sint-Truiden (Brustem) and Riemst (Herderen). It will run via the substations in Borgloon and Tongeren. Studies are currently underway to determine the route of the cable, so this has not been finalised yet. We expect to be able to commission the new underground cable by 2032.

Schedule

• Early 2027: submission of environmental permit application
• Early 2028: start of work
• End of 2031: end of work

Upgrading 70-kV high-voltage line between Brustem and Godsheide to 150 kV

The current overhead high-voltage connection between Sint-Truiden (Brustem), Alken and Godsheide will be given a full upgrade to 150 kV. One of the two cable sets is already being used at 150 kV. To improve the line’s transmission capacity and meet increasing demand for energy, the second cable set is now being upgraded from 70 kV to 150 kV. We are also fitting new isolators - systems that reduce the risk of a short-circuit and electrical faults - over a distance of 19 kilometres. The idea is for the new isolators to increase the isolation distance from 70 kV to 150 kV during the upgrade.

Schedule

• 2026 - 2027: project MER procedure
• 2028: submission of environmental permit application
• End of 2029: start of work
• Early 2032: end of work

Dismantling overhead 70-kV connection between Sint-Truiden, Borgloon, Tongeren and Ans

The current infrastructure between Sint-Truiden and Ans (province of Liège) is approaching the end of its service life. It is also no longer able to meet energy demand from the region. This is why Elia has scheduled the full dismantling of the existing overhead 70-kV line connection.

Schedule

• Work to start once the cable between Sint-Truiden and Riemst has been commissioned

Upgrading the current 70-kV high-voltage substation in Borgloon to 150 kV

To support the new cable connection between Sint-Truiden and Riemst, the 70-kV high-voltage substation in Borgloon will be replaced by a 150-kV high-voltage substation.

• Replacing outdated 70-kV systems by 150-kV systems
  The current substation is outdated and will be upgraded for the new 150-kV cable connection between Sint-Truiden and Riemst.
• Compact extension of high-voltage bays
  Like the distribution box for electricity in a house, the switching equipment in a high-voltage substation is under high voltage and must be insulated to avoid short-circuits. There are two ways to insulate the switching equipment: with air (Air Insulated Switchgear or AIS) or SF6 gas (Gas Insulated Switchgear or GIS). The current AIS system in the high-voltage substation in Borgloon will be replaced by a new AIS system. The current relay room (the ‘control room’ as it were), where the high-voltage substation is monitored and from where data is continually forwarded to Elia, will also be replaced by a new one because of the new AIS system.
• Replacing existing transformers
  A transformer converts voltage from a higher to lower level and vice versa. Two new transformers will replace the old ones currently in the high-voltage substation in Borgloon. In compliance with noise legislation, Elia will use low-noise transformers. Elia will also erect noise barriers around the new transformers if necessary to meet legal requirements.

Schedule

• Spring 2026: submission of environmental permit application
• Early 2028: start of work
• Spring 2032: end of work

Upgrading the current 70-kV high-voltage substation in Tongeren to 150 kV

To support the new cable connection between Sint-Truiden and Riemst, the 70-kV high-voltage substation in Tongeren will be replaced by a 150-kV high-voltage substation.

• Replacing outdated 70-kV systems by 150-kV systems
  The current substation is outdated and will be upgraded for the new 150-kV cable connection between Sint-Truiden and Riemst.
• Compact extension of high-voltage bays
  Like the distribution box for electricity in a house, the switching equipment in a high-voltage substation is under high voltage and must be insulated to avoid short-circuits. There are two ways to insulate the switching equipment: with air (Air Insulated Switchgear or AIS) or SF6 gas (Gas Insulated Switchgear or GIS). The current AIS system in the high-voltage substation in Tongeren will be replaced by a new AIS system. The current relay room (the ‘control room’ as it were), where the high-voltage substation is monitored and from where data is continually forwarded to Elia, will also be replaced by a new one because of the new AIS system.
• Replacing existing transformers
  A transformer converts voltage from a higher to lower level and vice versa. Two new transformers will replace the old ones currently in the high-voltage substation in Tongeren. In compliance with noise legislation, Elia will use low-noise transformers. Elia will also erect noise barriers around the new transformers if necessary to meet legal requirements.

Schedule

• Spring 2026: submission of environmental permit application
• Early 2028: start of work
• End of 2032: end of work

Upgrading the current 70-kV high-voltage substation in Alken to 150 kV

To support the new cable connection between Sint-Truiden and Riemst, the 70-kV high-voltage substation in Alken will be replaced by a 150-kV high-voltage substation.

• Replacing outdated 70-kV systems by 150-kV systems
  The current substation is outdated and will be upgraded for the new 150-kV cable connection between Sint-Truiden and Riemst.
• Compact extension of high-voltage bays
  Like the distribution box for electricity in a house, the switching equipment in a high-voltage substation is under high voltage and must be insulated to avoid short-circuits. There are two ways to insulate the switching equipment: with air (Air Insulated Switchgear or AIS) or SF6 gas (Gas Insulated Switchgear or GIS). The current AIS system in the high-voltage substation in Alken will be replaced by a new AIS system. The current relay room (the ‘control room’ as it were), where the high-voltage substation is monitored and from where data is continually forwarded to Elia, will also be replaced by a new one because of the new AIS system.
• Replacing existing transformers
  A transformer converts voltage from a higher to lower level and vice versa. New transformers will replace the old ones currently in the high-voltage substation in Alken. In compliance with noise legislation, Elia will use low-noise transformers. Elia will also erect noise barriers around the new transformers if necessary to meet legal requirements.

Schedule

• Mid-2026: submission of environmental permit application
• Early 2028: start of work
• Early 2032: end of work

Expanding the 150-kV high-voltage substation in Brustem

To support the new cable connection between Sint-Truiden and Riemst, the high-voltage substation in Brustem will be expanded.

• Compact extension of high-voltage bays
  Like the distribution box for electricity in a house, the switching equipment in a high-voltage substation is under high voltage and must be insulated to avoid short-circuits. There are two ways to insulate the switching equipment: with air (Air Insulated Switchgear or AIS) or SF6 gas (Gas Insulated Switchgear or GIS). The current AIS system in the high-voltage substation in Brustem will be replaced by a new AIS system. The current relay room (the ‘control room’ as it were), where the high-voltage substation is monitored and from where data is continually forwarded to Elia, will also be replaced by a new one because of the new AIS system.
• Replacing existing transformers
  A transformer converts voltage from a higher to lower level and vice versa. Three new transformers will replace the old ones currently in the high-voltage substation in Brustem. In compliance with noise legislation, Elia will use low-noise transformers. Elia will also erect noise barriers around the new transformers if necessary to meet legal requirements.

Schedule

• Early 2026: submission of environmental permit application
• Mid-2027: start of work
• End of 2031: end of work

Expanding the 150-kV high-voltage substation in Godsheide

To support the new cable connection between Sint-Truiden and Riemst, the high-voltage substation in Godsheide will be expanded (within its existing site).

Schedule

• Early 2028: submission of environmental permit application
• Mid-2029: start of work
• Early 2031: end of work

Dismantling the 70-kV high-voltage substation in Sint-Truiden

The 70-kV high-voltage substation in Sint-Truiden will be fully dismantled in the context of the dismantling of the 70-kV line between Sint-Truiden and Ans.

Schedule

• Mid-2026: submission of environmental permit application
• Mid-2027: start of work
• End of 2031: end of work

Elia is always mindful of the local area when carrying out work. As a high-voltage system operator, it is taking a range of measures to mitigate disruption and any impact on the local area.

• Work will only take place during the day, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.;
• Elia guarantees that homes and businesses will always be accessible during the work; 
• If local residents are set to experience a temporary increase in disruption for a specific reason, Elia or its subcontractor(s) will always individually notify everyone affected;
• If normal traffic has to be diverted, the diversions will be agreed with the road authority and clearly communicated to local residents;
• Once work is complete, the land is always restored to its original state.

Information sheet - Construction of underground electricity connection (in French and in Dutch)

Information sheet - What is a high-voltage substation? (in French and in Dutch)

Information sheet - Noise in the vicinity of high-voltage substations (in French and in Dutch)