Project description

People are exposed to electrical and magnetic fields in a variety of ways, for example when they use an electric shaver, hair dryer, personal computer or microwave oven. High-voltage lines, too, are surrounded by a magnetic field and the possible impact of this field is a source of concern and debate in society, particularly for people living in the direct vicinity. TenneT understands their concern and invests in research aimed at minimising the strength of magnetic fields wherever possible.

Standards for magnetic fields

Various organisations, such as the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), recommend limit values for human exposure to magnetic fields. ICNIRP applies a limit value of 100 microTesla. This value has been adopted by the EU and the Dutch government as well. As an indication, the value of a magnetic field measured below the lowest point of a high-voltage line at 1 metre above the ground generally lies between 2 and 15 microTesla.

Precautionary policy

To add to the limit value of 100 microTesla, in October 2005 the Ministry of VROM issued a policy recommendation to municipalities, provincial authorities and grid administrators for situations in which children are exposed to magnetic fields for prolonged periods of time. The recommendation was based on the precautionary principle. In it, the Ministry literally advises us to ‘avoid as far as reasonably possible, when adopting regional plans, zoning plans and routes for overhead high-voltage lines, the development of new situations in which children spend prolonged periods of time in an area around overhead high-voltage lines in which the annual average strength of the magnetic field exceeds 0.4 microTesla (the magnetic field zone)’.

Balance of interests

In the fulfilment of its duties, TenneT tries to find a balance between the important interests of the reliability of the electricity supply in our country, the associated costs and TenneT’s own social responsibility in its capacity of grid administrator. The development of the new Wintrack lines concept offers TenneT more opportunities than before to arrive at the best possible solutions in concrete situations – in a technical, an economic as well as a social sense.

Further information about electrical and magnetic fields and TenneT’s policy has been set out in the corporate brochure entitled ‘Electrical and magnetic fields’.