Bye-Bye Paper Floods: Digital Energy Transition with the SuedLink Portal

The SuedLink portal, developed by TransnetBW, enables digital communication and contract processing with property owners involved in electricity grid expansion. The portal reduces paperwork, accelerates procedures, and enhances transparency. This innovation enhances stakeholder engagement and is poised to scale for broader use across other energy projects.

Highlights

• Launched in January 2023, SuedLink has transformed the traditionally analogue process into a fully digital one.
• The platform is scalable, with tens of thousands of potential users across Germany’s grid expansion projects.
•  Maximum IT security on German servers, using video identification and SMS authentication for sensitive transactions.

About this Practice

The SuedLink portal, developed by TransnetBW, transforms communication between property owners and project developers involved in electricity grid expansion. Traditionally, this process was paper-heavy, slow, and resource-intensive. The portal addresses these issues by offering a fully digital, user-friendly platform for managing contracts, legal documents, and appointments.

The platform includes real-time updates, GIS integration, and tools for reporting damage, ensuring transparency and efficiency throughout the process. Property owners can schedule surveys, coordinate consultation appointments, and manage contracts for easements or construction areas – all through a secure online system. Sensitive data is protected to the highest IT security standards, creating trust and confidence among users.

Launched in January 2023, SuedLink has already made significant strides in improving stakeholder engagement. Its scalability is one of its key strengths: while it currently serves regions like Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, the portal will be expanded in 2025 to handle other grid expansion projects, such as NordWestLink. With tens of thousands of potential users, the portal will streamline engagement on a much larger scale. 

By digitalising traditionally slow and bureaucratic processes, the SuedLink portal saves time, reduces resource consumption, and fosters greater acceptance of energy infrastructure projects. This innovative tool is a milestone in the digitalisation of energy transitions, providing a blueprint for future projects across Europe.