The provisions aim to increase electricity supply by allowing lignite power stations to be temporarily brought back from reserve status and onto the standard electricity market. By adopting these provisions, the Federal Government is preventing supply shortages and making it possible to save gas.

Activating power stations requires alert or emergency status

The so-called “Regulation for a temporary expansion of electricity generation capacity by utilising facilities from reserve supply” makes it possible for power stations in reserve to be used on a temporary basis in the electricity market until 30 June 2023. This requires that an alert or emergency status is in force for gas supplies at the same time. 

The Federal Government had already created the conditions for this in the Electricity Supply Expansion Regulations (StaaV), which allow coal power stations in the reserve networks to produce electricity on an interim basis. 

Now that the new regulations are in force, this also applies for lignite power stations from the supply reserve. They can be used to provide additional generation capacity.

Tense situation on the energy market requires action

Although coal is being phased out, this is necessary because the situation on the energy markets remains tense. By adopting these regulations, the Federal Government is taking steps to expand electricity supplies, reduce gas usage and guarantee increased electricity production during the winter months. 

Coal power stations can help significantly reduce the amount of gas used for electricity generation. They replace the gas that is in short supply and mitigate the impact of a potential gas shortage.