SPIE to install three new substations in Offenbach, Germany

Offenbach, Germany, 16 April 2026 – SPIE, the independent European leader in multi-technical services in the areas of energy and communications, is delivering three new substations on behalf of Gesellschaft für Hochspannungsbau Offenbach mbH (GHO) – a project that will strengthen the regional power supply. Located in the north, south and east of the city, the substations are owned by the local electricity and gas network operator Energienetze Offenbach GmbH (ENO).

All three substations will be equipped with modern, fully SF₆-free GIS switchgear (gas-insulated switchgear) at the 110 kV and 20 kV levels. Sulphur hexafluoride is a climate-damaging insulating gas. Eliminating its use significantly reduces the carbon footprint of the installations. “We are among the first in Germany to implement this technology at scale, helping to accelerate the adoption of SF₆-free systems,” explains Christoph Bausch, Project Manager in the High Voltage Operational Division at SPIE Germany Switzerland Austria.

Across all three substations, SPIE’s scope of services includes approval planning and erection of the buildings, engineering for primary and secondary systems, installation of the complete protection and control systems, project and site management, as well as commissioning of all the installations. Implementation is challenging: in some cases, switchgear bays weighing up to five tonnes must be installed in very confined spaces within an urban environment.

Project overview:

• Offenbach Nord substation (EVO site, Andréstraße): 18,000 cubic metres, 110 kV switchgear with 14 bays, 20 kV switchgear with 52 bays, 4 transformers.
• Offenbach Ost substation (Mülheimer Straße): 18,200 cubic metres, 110 kV switchgear with 16 bays, 20 kV switchgear with 42 bays, 3 transformers.
• Offenbach Süd substation (Rowentastraße): 10,400 cubic metres, 110 kV switchgear with 12 bays, 20 kV switchgear with 30 bays, 2 transformers.

The project officially launched in November 2025. Offenbach Nord and Offenbach Ost will be implemented in parallel from September 2026, followed by Offenbach Süd in July 2027. The installation phase will take around three years in total.

Burkhard Sager, General Manager of the High Voltage Operational Division at SPIE Germany Switzerland Austria, emphasises: “The substations are a key project for the region’s sustainable energy future. They provide the grid with the capacity needed to integrate the growing share of renewable energy sources and ensure a stable supply, even during periods of high demand.”