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Parliamentary question - E-004157/2016Parliamentary question
E-004157/2016

Health risks as a result of switching from direct to alternating current along the same transmission section

Question for written answer E-004157-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Ulrike Müller (ALDE)

Under the Ultranet project being run by grid operators Amprion and TransnetBW, both direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) are to be carried along a power line section in corridor A (south) from Osterath (in North Rhine-Westphalia) to Philippsburg (in Baden-Württemberg) in Germany. Along the existing section, some AC lines are to be replaced by DC lines. To my knowledge, carrying both types of current simultaneously along the same overhead line section would be a world first.

1. In the Commission's opinion, has there been adequate research into the human and animal health impact of simultaneous DC and AC transmission along the same power line section?

2. What is the Commission's assessment of the health risks? Does it regard the use of hybrid DC and AC pylons in this connection as safe?

3. Since the introduction of legislation on underground cables in 2015, for the construction of new high-voltage lines priority has been given to buried cables over overhead power lines where, inter alia, the line concerned is to run less than 400 m away from residential buildings within the scope of the local zoning scheme (Article 5(1) of the Power Line Extension Amending Act). Some existing AC lines in corridor A (south) are 13 m away from residential buildings. In the light of its knowledge of the health risks referred to above, how does the Commission view the plans to extend the section concerned by installing DC lines? Is it of the opinion that particular account should be taken of proximity?