Schelle-Malderen-Mechelen

Work on the high-voltage grid in the Schelle-Malderen-Mechelen area is necessary for three reasons:

• Two 70 kV lines have reached the end of their service lives

The 70 kV line between Schelle and Mechelen is almost a century old and the 70 kV line between Malderen and Mechelen dates from 1932.

• New 150 kV cable to ensure security of supply

A new 150 kV underground cable connection between Malderen and Mechelen will replace the 70 kV overhead line between Malderen and Mechelen. Since the new cable’s voltage level is higher, it will guarantee security of supply in the future too.

• Work on the high-voltage substations to make grid upgrades possible

The high-voltage substations in Schelle, Malderen and Tisselt need to be upgraded to improve electricity transmission in the Mechelen area.

• Dismantling of the 70 kV Schelle-Mechelen overhead line

In 2017, the 16-kilometre overhead line through Schelle, Niel, Aartselaar, Rumst and Mechelen was dismantled and a total of 82 pylons were demolished. The line passed through the municipalities of Schelle, Niel, Aartselaar, Rumst and Mechelen.

• Upgrade of three 70 kV high-voltage substations in Schelle, Malderen and Tisselt

This work will take place in Schelle, Malderen and Tisselt was completed in 2020.

• Laying of the new 150 kV Malderen-Tisselt-Mechelen cable

This new 150 kV underground cable will pass through the municipalities of Londerzeel, Willebroek, Puurs, Kapelle-op-den-Bos and Mechelen. However, the connection will continue to take the form of an overhead line between Leest and Mechelen. Elia is building a transition pylon in Leest to connect the underground cable with the overhead line. The new underground high-voltage connection was commissioned in autumn 2020.

• Dismantling of the 70 kV Malderen-Mechelen overhead line

This line also passes through Londerzeel, Willebroek, Kapelle-op-den-Bos and Mechelen. The pylons will start to be dismantled in March 2021. More information can be found in the 'Schedule' section.

Even as early on as the design and study phase for a project’s route and implementation method, Elia thinks about how the project will affect people, the environment and the local area. With this in mind, a number of nuisance limitation measures have been put in place for the Schelle-Malderen-Mechelen project.

• Elia is committed to minimising the duration of the work and the amount of space affected (work areas).
• After work is completed, the land is always restored to its original state on the basis of a survey.
• Elia only carries out work during the day, so no depots or sites are lit up at night.
• Elia agrees specific access routes with the municipal authorities and the local police with a view to spreading out and limiting site traffic.
• If local residents are set to experience a temporary increase in disruption for a specific reason, Elia or its subcontractors always send out individual letters to those affected to notify them.
• If normal traffic has to be diverted, the diversions are agreed with the road authority (the municipality or the Flemish Region) and clearly communicated to local residents.
• Elia keeps local residents informed of the project schedule and upcoming phases by publishing a digital newsletter and posting the latest information on its website.

Sub-project 1: Sub-project 1: dismantling of 70-kV overhead line between Schelle and Mechelen

• Started in spring 2017
• Completed in March 2019

Sub-project 2: upgrading of three 70-kV high-voltage substations in Schelle, Malderen and Tisselt

• Started in spring 2017
• Completed in mid-2020

Sub-project 3: laying of a 150-kV underground cable connection between Malderen, Tisselt and Mechelen

• Started in March 2019
• Completed in autumn 2020
• Subsequent road repairs by the municipality: March 2021

Sub-project 4: dismantling of 70-kV overhead line between Malderen and Mechelen

The line will be dismantled in two phases:

Removal of the conductors:

• Scheduled start date for this phase: spring 2021
• Duration of the work: 7 months

Dismantling of the pylons and foundations:

• Scheduled start date for this phase: spring 2022
• Duration of the work: 12 months

Letter to local residents - Dismantling underground line (in Dutch)

Flyer - Dismantling of underground line (in Dutch)

Letter to local residents - Dismantling of overhead line (diversion A12) (in Dutch)