Germany can maintain a secure electricity supply through 2035 if it adds up to 35.5 gigawatts (GW) of controllable generation capacity, the German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) said in a report on Thursday. The figures depend on the pace of the country’s energy transition and electricity demand flexibility.
The agency outlined two scenarios: one in which legal and political energy targets are met, and a “delayed energy transition” scenario reflecting slower renewable deployment and less responsive electricity consumption. According to the report, additional controllable capacity, such as conventional power plants, will be essential if demand flexibility is insufficient or renewable expansion lags.
Klaus Müller, president of Bundesnetzagentur, said: “The electricity supply will remain secure in future if additional controllable capacity is built. Our monitoring underlines the significance of the Power Station Strategy planned by the federal government. The additional necessary capacity should be provided via a capacity mechanism. It is also important for more and more electricity consumers to respond flexibly to electricity prices.”
The report emphasizes the role of energy storage and flexible consumption from technologies such as heat pumps, electric vehicles, and industrial loads in reducing the need for new power plants. It also notes that delays in renewable deployment, particularly wind and solar, could necessitate additional reserves outside the market to maintain supply security.
In a recent tender, the Bundesnetzagentur approved 258 ground-mounted solar projects totaling 2,271 MW, slightly exceeding its target of 2,266 MW. The agency stressed that continued rapid expansion of solar and wind capacity is critical not only for Germany’s climate goals but also for maintaining reliable electricity supply.
The report aligns with the federal government’s planned legal framework for commissioning new power stations by 2030 and underscores the need for ongoing network expansion and redispatch measures as electricity transport volumes grow.
