Province and TenneT investigate where underground cable from Eindhoven-East to Maarheeze will be laid

Why is this cable necessary?

There is not enough capacity on the electricity grid. Demand for (sustainable) electricity is growing rapidly, mainly due to factors such as charging electric cars, heating homes with heat pumps, and the use of solar panels and wind turbines. As a result, the electricity grid is full, and we need to expand it to prevent power outages in Brabant. This is necessary in order to be able to supply new homes, businesses, and schools with electricity.

One of the expansions is the new underground 150 kV cable connection between the high-voltage substations in Eindhoven and Maarheeze. The exact location of the cable is still being investigated.

Who is responsible for this project?

The Province of North Brabant is ensuring that the project can go ahead and is responsible for providing information and involving stakeholders in this project. TenneT, the national grid operator, is the initiator and is investigating the best location for the cable.

What has happened so far?

• In 2024, the province of North Brabant took over the competent authority (leadership) from the municipalities of Eindhoven, Nuenen, Someren, Geldrop-Mierlo, Heeze-Leende, and Cranendonck.
• The boundaries of the search area have been determined. This involved identifying locations where the underground cable cannot be laid under any circumstances. Input for this was obtained from discussions with the municipalities concerned and TenneT.
• Four possible routes (corridors) measuring 800 meters wide have been selected for the underground cable connection. Area characteristics have been mapped within the search area. These include whether there is water running through the area and whether there are any 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 the responses, four possible routes, each 140 meters wide, have been selected and are now being investigated further.
• 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.

What happens now?

• 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.
• The Province of North Brabant is investigating which of the four routes is preferable based on the environmental impact assessment procedure. We are working this out in a draft preference decision, which will be 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: the so-called '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. Because the competent authority has been taken over, the province is publishing a new Intention and Participation (VenP) document. This document describes, among other things, how the province will involve residents and other stakeholders in the next steps. You can respond to this from January 9 to February 19, 2026.

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. They will explain why this project is so important for the region, what has happened so far, what steps will follow, and how you can contribute your ideas. Registration for this digital broadcast is not required.

More information, recording, and digital broadcast

For more information about this project, to submit your comments, and for the link to the digital broadcast (starting January 9, 2026), visit: brabant.nl/eindhovenoostmaarheeze. There you will also find the link to TenneT's project website. Want to stay up to date on developments in this project? You can do so via TenneT's 'Eindhoven region' newsletter: www.tennet.eu/nl/aanmelden-nieuwsbrief-regio-eindhoven