Electricity grids are the lifeblood of the energy transition. Without it, wind power from the north cannot reach the industrial centres in the south. By 2045, around 651 billion euros will have to be invested in the expansion and conversion of the electricity grid infrastructure in Germany.¹ But the expansion of the transmission grids often encounters scepticism: health risks, property depreciation, lack of necessity. klimaVest was the first open-ended private investor fund to invest in the transmission system operator Amprion in 2025, thereby enabling access to this critical infrastructure. Reason enough to put the most common biases through a fact check. 

Myth 1: High-voltage lines pose a health hazard 

Electromagnetic fields from high-voltage power lines are one of the most common concerns expressed by residents. The fear: Cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, or other diseases caused by invisible radiation. But what do the facts say?

In Germany, the 26th Federal Immission Control Ordinance (26th BImSchV) protects the population with clear limit values. These are based on international recommendations and have been defined in such a way that they protect against all scientifically proven health risks.² The limit values are based on known action thresholds: Only above these thresholds can electrical and magnetic fields irritate nerve and muscle cells.²

The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) and the Radiation Protection Commission are constantly reviewing the current state of research.² According to current scientific knowledge, animals and plants are also not damaged by the fields of high-voltage lines.²

Important reminders: The field strength decreases very quickly as the distance to the line increases.³ In addition, electrical installations and devices in the household usually contribute significantly more to personal exposure to low-frequency fields than high-voltage lines in the vicinity.⁴

Nevertheless, the BfS recommends precautionary measures: New power lines should be planned in such a way that they do not lead to an additional burden on the population.⁴ Since 2013, new overvoltage overhead lines from 220 kilovolts have been banned from running over residential buildings.⁵

Myth 2: Electricity grids are degraded and outdated 

Germany actually has one of the most reliable electricity grids in the world. This is proven by the so-called SAIDI (System Average Interruption Duration Index), which measures the average power outage time per year per customer.

In 2024, the SAIDI score was only 12.9 minutes. This means that around 99.998 percent of every household was supplied with electricity.⁶ For comparison: In 2006, this figure was still 21.5 minutes.⁷ In the European comparison, Germany takes the top position.⁶

The high reliability is also evident in the number of short-circuit-like faults, which are particularly relevant for industrial and commercial customers with sensitive systems: With 1.76 faults per 100 kilometres of line length in medium voltage, the 2024 value is in the normal fluctuation range.⁶

The fact that Germany maintains such a high level of security of supply despite the massive expansion of renewable energies refutes the myth of outdated infrastructure. The Federal Network Agency confirms: “The power supply in Germany will continue to be one of the most reliable in Europe and the world in 2024.”⁶

Nevertheless: The energy transition requires massive investments in the modernisation and expansion of networks. Not because the networks are degraded, but because they need to be made fit for the new requirements.