Province and TenneT investigate locations for underground cable connection from Eindhoven-East to Maarheeze

A new underground cable connection will be installed between the Eindhoven-Oost and Maarheeze high-voltage substations. This 150 kilovolt (kV) cable will help maintain the reliability of the electricity grid in the Eindhoven metropolitan region. TenneT is currently investigating the best location for the cable. This message contains information about this project, how you can stay informed, and how you can respond to this proposal.

Why is this cable connection so important?

There is insufficient capacity on the electricity grid. The demand for and supply of (sustainable) electricity is constantly increasing. Examples include charging electric cars, heating homes with heat pumps, and generating electricity with solar panels or wind turbines. All this electricity has to be transported via the underground cables and overhead lines that currently exist (the electricity grid). Because the growth in (sustainable) electricity is so great, the grid is becoming full. To prevent Brabant from running out of electricity and to ensure that new residential areas, businesses, and schools, among others, can be connected to the grid, we need to upgrade and expand the electricity grid.

One of the projects in Brabant to expand the electricity grid is a new underground 150 kV cable connection between the high-voltage substations in Eindhoven and Maarheeze. The exact location of the cable is not yet known.

The province of North Brabant is the competent authority in this project. This means that the province is responsible for ensuring that the cable connection can be installed. The province is also responsible for informing and involving stakeholders in this project. National grid operator TenneT is the initiator of the project and is investigating the best location for the cable. Where possible, they will take the input of stakeholders into account.

The history of this project

• In 2024, the province of North Brabant took over authority from the municipalities of Eindhoven, Nuenen, Someren, Geldrop-Mierlo, Heeze-Leende, and Cranendonck. A number of steps had already been taken at that point:
• The boundaries of the search area have been determined. This involved looking at locations where the underground cable cannot be laid under any circumstances. Input was gathered from discussions with the municipalities concerned and TenneT. These were discussions between the competent authority at the time (the above-mentioned municipalities, coordinated by Eindhoven) and TenneT.
• Based on the possible locations of the cable, four possible routes, each 800 meters wide, were selected for the underground cable connection. We refer to these as 'corridors'. Area characteristics were identified within the search area. For example, whether there is water running through the area and whether there are buildings. Residents, relevant organizations, and other stakeholders were able to ask questions and share comments and knowledge about the area and the proposed corridors. This was done through two physical meetings and a digital broadcast, among other things. There was also an online platform where participants could share area-specific information and characteristics. The digital broadcast can be viewed on the TenneT website.
• Based on all the input collected, four possible routes, each 140 meters wide, have been selected. We refer to these as "alternatives."
• The environmental impact assessment (EIA) outlines the environmental impact of the project. It examines the consequences of the construction and use of the underground cable for people, nature, and the environment. How this is examined is set out in the Scope and Level of Detail Memorandum (NRD). The draft NRD was published in 2023 and was available for inspection at that time. Anyone could respond to this memorandum by submitting their opinion.

Steps to reach the final location

• On December 9, 2025, the Provincial Executive determined the scope and level of detail for the EIA procedure and the Memorandum of Views. The province will now continue from the point where the municipalities left off.
• Based on the environmental impact assessment procedure, we are investigating which of the four possible 140-meter-wide routes is preferable. We will elaborate this in a draft preference decision, which will be made available for inspection.
• The province of North Brabant will then select the best possible route, 140 meters wide. It will do so on the basis of the environmental impact assessment procedure and all input from the participation process. We refer to this as the 'preferred decision'.
• The province of North Brabant then selects a final route 40 meters wide. This 40-meter-wide route is refined to an 11-meter-wide route. It does so on the basis of all input from the participation process and the environmental impact assessment procedure. The province elaborates this in a plan. We call this the 'project decision'. In this decision, the province describes how it involved the community (participation), what choices and considerations were made, and the measures it is taking to mitigate the effects on the environment. The draft project decision will be made available for inspection. Opinions can then be submitted.

Responding to the Intention and Participation

The location of the cable has yet to be determined. The province of North Brabant and TenneT are carefully considering their options. They are ensuring that residents, landowners, and other relevant organizations are well informed and can share their ideas about the project.

As the competent authority has been taken over, the province is publishing a new Intention and Participation (VenP) document. Among other things, this document describes how the province will involve residents and other stakeholders in the next steps.

You can respond to this from January 9 through February 19, 2026. More information will follow on January 9 at brabant.nl/eindhovenoostmaarheeze.

Digital broadcast on the current situation

On February 3, 2026, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., the province of North Brabant and TenneT will host a digital broadcast to present the current state of affairs. Among other things, they will explain why this project is so important for the region, what has happened so far, what steps still need to be taken, and what you can contribute your ideas about and how.

Registration for this digital broadcast is not required.

Contact and further information

Want to stay informed about developments in this project? You can do so via TenneT's 'Eindhoven region' newsletter.

Read more information about this project on the project page of the province of North Brabant and TenneT.eu.