Grid agency calls on German gov’t to quickly enable new backup power plants
Clean Energy Wire
Germany’s government should quickly create the legal basis for back-up power plants to be built to secure the country’s electricity system stability, the federal network agency BNetzA said. “The German electricity system is one of the most reliable in the world,” said BNetzA head Klaus Müller. “Our goal is to ensure that this high level of reliability is maintained in the future.”
Germany is planning the installation of up to 20 gigawatts of new gas fired power plant capacity, which would serve as back-up for renewables amid the country’s coal phase-out. The new government aims to hold the first auction before the end of the year.
BNetzA called for these new gas-fired power plants to be equipped with additional technology to help with system stability, such as phase shifters that control power flow.
In its 2025 System Stability Report, the BNetzA and Germany’s transmission system operators (TSOs) assessed the security and robustness of Germany’s grid. Requirements for grid operators have become more complex with the energy transition, as wind and solar are intermittent, unlike conventional power plants which can be ramped up or down depending on demand. Demand patterns are changing too, as heating and mobility are increasingly electrified.
The System Stability Report examines how resilient the German electricity system is to disruptions on a two-year basis. The Federal Network Agency is responsible for evaluating the TSO’s recommendations and supplementing it with its own assessment.
