According to the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK), there is a relatively low risk of power outages occurring in Germany over the upcoming winter. According to the agency, “a widespread power outage in Germany is quite unlikely,” and it is “thought unlikely that targeted power cuts will occur regionally and for limited periods of time.” The country’s federal network agency (BNetzA), which oversees the operators of energy supply networks, also reaffirmed that there is a low likelihood of power outages occurring during the winter season. This is due to the fact that there are numerous mechanisms in place that are designed to stabilize the grid in stressful situations.
Ralph Tiesler, the head of the BBK, issued a warning that not all German municipalities are adequately prepared for an electrical blackout, which is a possibility in the context of regional and targeted power cuts to preserve the grid (so-called brownout). According to Tiesler, the level of preparedness for emergency circumstances, such as power outages, differs widely between municipalities. He noted that there are certain municipalities that are not fully prepared, and he emphasized how important it is to adhere to preventive measures. This coming winter is not expected to have any regional or controlled power outages, according to the network agency BNetzA.
Uncertainty has been introduced into Germany’s energy supply security as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent energy crisis that followed. Even though the country’s energy system is one of the most reliable in the world, transmission system operators have not completely ruled out the potential of a blackout, which is the term used to describe a broad loss of power across a big area. Increasing the likelihood of (controlled) power cuts in Germany are factors such as reduced power supply from France’s nuclear plants (due to the fact that Germany’s grid is highly interconnected with the grids of its neighboring countries), unfavorable weather conditions for the production of power from renewable sources, and increased electricity demand (for instance, through the use of electric heaters).