New transformer station in Borgfeld: Flood protection for 532,000 Bremen!

New transformer station in Borgfeld: Flood protection for 532,000 Bremen!

In Bremen something is happening - especially in Borgfeld! At the corner on the Großer Moordamm and Borgfelder Landstrasse, a new transformer station is currently being worked hard. This bleak corner will soon become a life donor for households in Butendieker Landstrasse, on the Großer Moordamm, in Warfer Landstrasse and on the Mehlandsdeich, as the SWB spokesman Jean-Paul Berndt explains. The transformer station will convert electrical energy from high voltage and thus ensure the supply in the surrounding residential areas. The background is the often threatening flood situation in dike areas.

The extreme flood events, such as during the century flood in the winter of 2023/24, have shown how important a robust infrastructure is. At that time there were temporary interruptions. So that something like this does not happen again, the new transformer station was one meter higher than its predecessor. It stands on a special base that is firmly anchored in the ground. It is better armed against the impending floods.

flood protection as an urgent task

Speaking of floods: Around 86 percent of the area in Bremen is potentially under flooding. Around 532,000 people live in these sensitive areas. This risk arises in Bremen not only by high rainfall or melting of snow, but also by storm surges from the North Sea, which together with internal floods represent a special threat. In order to counteract this, flood risk management in Bremen is constantly being developed. The Federal Institute for Water Center commissioned by the federal government is significantly involved.

The flood risk management takes place in several levels: from the determination of endangered areas to the creation of flood risk cards to a comprehensive management plan that is updated every six years. The first stage of this third cycle was completed in December 2024. The plan provides for a total of 108 measures, including the revision of the General Plan Coastal Protection and Partnerships for the better prediction of heavy rain.

a common responsibility

As part of a constant exchange between the authorities and dike associations, it is ensured that Bremen can best react to new challenges. Over 67 kilometers of dikes have been checked for their stability in the past year and a half. This proactivity is supported by careful hydraulic calculations to model future risk scenarios. Transport and energy infrastructure are of central importance, because the population must be able to rely on the supply even in extreme weather conditions.

The new transformer station in Borgfeld and the comprehensive flood protection measures illustrate how important it is to counteract the challenges of climate change and extreme weather situations. Experts like Jens wish point out that the Wümme system is not easy, and the first examinations should still provide results in June 2025. However, a plan of measures could take up to four years.

Overall, Bremen shows a good knack for flood risk management and ensuring a resilient energy supply. Let's be excited to see how the measures will develop and what new knowledge will bring us in the coming months!