Evonik Commissions New 150-Kilovolt Substation

Antwerp. Evonik has commissioned a new 150‑kilovolt high-voltage substation at its site in Antwerp, Belgium. The facility replaces the former 36‑kilovolt connection and significantly increases the available electrical capacity. The investment strengthens the Antwerp industrial site and provides Evonik with opportunities for further sustainable projects and future growth.

The substation is a key component in the ongoing electrification of industrial processes and supports Belgian and European climate targets. Thanks to the increased connection capacity, Evonik can integrate additional electrical consumers and gradually reduce the use of fossil energy sources. This enables electrified processes to be operated more economically and facilitates the implementation of CO₂ reduction projects.

“A reliable and high-performance power supply is of central importance for industry in Belgium,” said Thomas Wessel, Evonik’s Chief Human Resources Officer and Labor Relations Director and Board member responsible for sustainability. “With the new high-voltage connection, we are linking industrial transformation with climate protection.”

The project was implemented in close cooperation with the Belgian transmission system operator Elia. Heiko Mennerich, Head of Next Generation Technologies at Evonik, emphasized: “The close collaboration between the teams in Antwerp, our colleagues in Germany, and partners such as Elia is a good example of how, as a Group, we manage projects across regions and build a modern, sustainable, and resilient energy supply.”

The project is the most recent component of a multi-year program aimed at comprehensively modernizing power distribution at the site. “With the new substation, we are creating the necessary flexibility to increasingly rely on new technologies such as heat pumps and energy-efficient systems,” explained Lieve De Bock, Production Coordinator at Evonik in Antwerp.

From a technical perspective, the new facility consists of two transformers weighing around 150 metric tons each, as well as six cable connections, each approximately one kilometer in length. The high-voltage lines were installed together with grid operator Elia and other companies, partly underground along the River Scheldt to the new substation. Construction work was carried out while production operations continued.

“With this project, we are jointly contributing to strengthening Belgium as an industrial and energy hub,” said James Matthys‑Donnadieu, Chief Customers, Markets & System Officer of Elia Transmission Belgium. “The substation is an example of how modern grid connections can support industrial development and the energy transition at the same time.”