A new Council of Ministers regulation occurs: “Netzreserve neu” applies from 1 January – Austria

The Renewable Expansion Law (EAG) is no longer expected to enter into force on January 1, 2021. For this reason, the “grid reserve” element has been removed from this reform package so that it can be applied from the beginning of the year , as required by EU law. The grid reserve intervenes to stabilize the electricity grid if necessary. Instead of larger gas-fired power plants, as is currently the case, it should also be possible in the future to use smaller plants, including industrial or biomass plants.

The new regulation will be approved by the Council of Ministers today, Wednesday, so that it can be approved by the National Council on time this year. In the future, smaller power plants with a power of less than 1 megawatt (MW) should also be able to participate in the grid reserve and, for the first time, also renewable plants such as biomass power plants.

In addition, network reservation can also be offered for the first time by industrial consumers, specifically in the form of demand-side load control measures (demand-side response). These systems can, if necessary, reduce local consumption and thus contribute to the stability of the network.

In the future, CO2 restrictions will apply to the network reserve. Participation is only possible up to a maximum emission of 550 grams of CO2 per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity. And nuclear power plants are completely excluded.

“With the new regulation of the grid reserve, we are taking a big step towards a future-proof power supply”, emphasized the Minister of Climate Protection Leonore Gewessler (Greens) on this reform. This network reserve ensures that there is a good and stable electricity supply in Austria: “With the changes, we not only allow a wide participation in the network reserve, but also introduce ecological criteria.”

As “blackout insurance”, the network reserve makes a significant contribution to the security of supply in the country, explained Secretary of State Magnus Brunner (ÖVP). These precautions are necessary due to integrated and increasingly fluctuating European electricity grids to compensate for failures and bottlenecks, a keyword that increases volatile electricity production from wind and photovoltaic energy.

For the entire EAG, which will be the basis for a forced expansion of renewable electricity generation by 2030, it is still “please wait.” A presentation to the National Council is not timely for the package to reach the responsible committee in early December and then decide in the middle of the month in plenary session and then in the Federal Council, the ministry told the APA.

For the next steps towards the EAG, the Ministry of Climate Protection is in close coordination with the EU Commission for a successful notification procedure. Right now, the ministry is responding to the many questions the EU Commission has asked about the legislative package. The full statements received from stakeholders and experts from the evaluation process are also being reviewed and incorporated by the ministry.

Following further coordination with Brussels, the WEEE package should be adopted in early 2021; for this, a two-thirds majority is required. Until it enters into force, the promotion of renewable energy is ensured through extensive funds from the economic stimulus package and the existing green electricity law. With the EAG, the national electricity production capacity from renewable sources will be expanded by 27 terawatt hours (from 54 to 81 TWh) by 2030. Throughout the year, Austria should be able to supply itself entirely with renewable electricity.