Slovenian electricity transmission system operator ELES launched reconstruction and upgrade of Cirkovce substation within the framework of constructing the new double-circuit 400 kV overhead line Cirkovce-Pince, which will connect the Slovenian electricity network with the Hungarian one.
ELES started the functional testing of the new 400 kV switchyard in the Cirkovce substation, which was planned along with the 2×400 kV Cirkovce-Pince overhead line. Four new 400 kV transmission fields have become active in Cirkovce substation, two of which go towards the city of Maribor, one towards NPP Krsko and one towards the village of Podlog. Thus, Cirkovce became the largest switchyard in the country.
The construction of the first electricity interconnection between Slovenia and Hungary started in October 2020. The 80 kilometers long power line between Cirkovce near Ptuj and Pince on the border with Hungary will establish a link between the Hungarian and Slovenian national grids and consequently Croatia. The 150 million euros project has been in the making for almost two decades, mainly due to lengthy zoning procedures. ELES expects for the 2×400 kV power line to be linked internationally by the end of 2021 with the project to be fully completed with final details by the end of 2022.
