The Federal Network Agency considers the gas-fired power stations currently available in Germany gas-fired power stations insufficient to ensure the Security of supply during periods of low renewable generation in the long term. The agency has identified a grid reserve requirement of 7,407 megawatts for the winter of 2026/2027. It also points to a need for additional firm capacity in the coming years in its system analyses. In early November, the Federal Network Agency also awarded the first contracts for new power station capacity.
The background is a structural shift in the electricity system: the phase-out of nuclear power, the gradual coal phase-out and the rapid expansion of wind and solar power are changing the role of conventional, dispatchable generation. During so-called dark doldrums, when wind and solar produce little electricity, dispatchable capacity or sufficient storage is needed to keep the grid frequency stable at 50 hertz. In the agency’s view, this creates a need for additional firm capacity that the existing fleet of power stations cannot meet.
The of the Federal Government, published on the same day. They show both increased participation in the is relying on new hydrogen hydrogen-ready gas-fired power stations and capacity mechanisms to fill this gap. Tenders are planned for capacity totalling tens of gigawatts, with payments intended to reward the availability of capacity regardless of whether it is actually used. In 2026, the federal government negotiated with the European Union over the design of its power station strategy to clarify state-aid issues.
Scientists, environmental organisations and some sections of the energy industry warn of economic and climate policy risks if new facilities were to run on fossil natural gas for a long time. Criticisms include the risk of lock-in, rising system costs and uncertainty about switching to climate-neutral gases. Supporters, by contrast, point to the demands of grid operation: without additional dispatchable capacity, orderly operation of the system could not be guaranteed in scenarios involving prolonged dark doldrums.
In the short term, the Federal Network Agency’s assessment means that the existing generation mix must be supplemented by grid reserves, new capacity and the accelerated expansion of storage. In the medium to long term, demand for gas-fired power stations will depend on how quickly renewable generation, flexible demand, storage and grids expand, and how rapidly climate-neutral hydrogen becomes available in sufficient quantities and at competitive prices. The Federal Network Agency’s newly published demand figures and the tenders now under way are the immediate trigger for the debate about future security of supply in Germany.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).