North Limburg

The aim of this Elia project is to prepare the electricity grid in North Limburg for the future via strengthening and support work. The strengthening work is necessary because of the decommissioning of the power plant in Mol. The support work has been prompted by the increasing demand for electricity caused by the energy transition. It has resulted in the electrification of industry and households using more and more electricity, e.g. for electric cars and heat pumps.

The existing Massenhoven-Van Eyck overhead line (380 kV) is a highway for electricity. In the North Limburg region, there are currently no direct connections to this highway for the transmission of electricity elsewhere. Transmission will only be possible if the voltage is reduced to 150 kV, which is why Elia will add a branch line from the Massenhoven-Van Eyck overhead line (380 kV). Elia will also build a new substation that converts high voltage from 380 kV to 150 kV. To connect it to the existing 150 kV grid, Elia will build a new high-voltage substation in the Kristalpark industry zone in Lommel. Elia will also construct two new underground electricity connections (150 kV) between the new high-voltage substation and the substation. When this work is complete, Elia will be able to distribute power efficiently in North Limburg and continue to guarantee the electricity supply in the future.

The exact location of the new substation is not known yet; a Regional Land-Use Plan (GRUP) needs to be approved first. It determines the designated use of a plot in the future and also which regulations apply. The Flemish government approved the launch notice for the drafting of a Regional Land-Use Plan for the new substation on 28 February 2025. The public will be given the opportunity to submit suggestions or comments about the launch notice during the public consultation period from 25 March to 23 May 2025 inclusive.

The North Limburg Grid Reinforcement project consists of three sub-projects:

• Building a new substation
  The existing Massenhoven-Van Eyck overhead line (380 kV) is a highway for electricity. Transmission will only be possible if the voltage is reduced, which is why Elia will add a branch line from the Massenhoven-Van Eyck overhead line (380 kV). Elia will also build a new Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) substation that converts high voltage from 380 kV to 150 kV. We are currently taking steps to establish the exact location at which this substation will be built.

• Building a new high-voltage substation
  Elia will build a new GIS high-voltage substation in the Kristalpark industry zone in Lommel. It will be a closed building in which switching equipment is insulated with SF6 gas. A GIS substation is smaller than an AIS (Air Insulated Switchgear) high-voltage substation. For more information about GIS installations, see the following brochure under Documents: “What is a high-voltage substation?”
• Constructing two new underground electricity connections (150 kV)
  Elia will construct two new underground electricity connections (150 kV) between the new substation and the new high-voltage substation in the Kristalpark industry zone in Lommel.

• Building a new substation

A regional land-use plan (GRUP) is being drafted to build the new substation. It determines the designated use of a plot in the future and also which regulations apply. The planning process for the drafting of a GRUP consists of the following five phases:

1. The launch notice and 60-day public consultation period: the Flemish government approved the launch notice for the new substation on 28 February 2025. The public will be given the opportunity to respond to the launch notice during the public consultation period from 25 March to 23 May 2025 inclusive.

2. The scoping note: the advice and consultation responses will be incorporated into the scoping note. It sets out the location alternatives and development options to be explored and also how the environmental impact assessment will be approached.

3. Preliminary draft of the GRUP and impact reports: the environmental impact of the various alternatives has been examined and compared. The preliminary draft of the GRUP will be drawn up on the basis of all the various assessments. A plenary meeting will be organised with the advisory bodies.

4. The draft GRUP and 60-day public consultation period: the Flemish government will adopt the draft GRUP provisionally. The public will be given the opportunity to respond to the draft GRUP during the public consultation period. The consultation responses and advice will be studied, after which the GRUP will be updated if necessary.

5. Adoption of the final version of the GRUP: after the Flemish government adopts the final version of the GRUP, it will be published in the Belgian Official Gazette.

Work can start after the final approval of the GRUP about the “Substation on the Massenhoven-Van Eyck high-voltage line”. The work on the new substation will take four years to complete.

• Building a new high-voltage substation
  It will not be necessary to draft a GRUP for the building of the new high-voltage substation. However, Elia will be required to submit an environmental permit application. We expect to do this in June 2026. The work is currently scheduled to start in June 2027 and take four years to complete. 
• Constructing two new underground electricity connections (150 kV)
  It will not be necessary to draft a GRUP for the construction of the two new underground electricity connections either. However, Elia will be required to submit an environmental permit application. We expect to do this in June 2026. The work is currently scheduled to start in June 2027 and end in 2031.

Documents about the GRUP for the new substation
The launch notice and appendices of the GRUP about the “Substation on the Massenhoven-Van Eyck high-voltage line” are available to consult on the website of the Flemish government.

General documents

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

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

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

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

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

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