(Bonn/Frankfurt a. M., 23.10.2024) In the All Electric Society and due to future topics such as e-mobility, digitalization or the heating transition, more and more areas of modern society are dependent on a reliable power supply. At the same time, various scenarios are increasing the likelihood of power outages, be it hacker attacks or natural events, which are occurring more frequently due to climate change. Against this backdrop, the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) has revised its guidelines on emergency power supply in companies and authorities in cooperation with the DKE and looked at the opportunities offered by new technologies.
Beyond the classic diesel genset: emergency power supply of the future
Christine Eismann, responsible for critical infrastructure protection at the BBK, explains: "By updating our emergency power guide, we are looking at options beyond the classic diesel generator. This includes renewable energies, battery storage or fuel cells as well as the implementation of stand-alone grids on the premises of a public authority or a company." The DKE was involved in the revision of the guidelines for the first time, with the DKE/AK 261.0.3A task force on grid island feed-in (German version) providing important impetus for a modern emergency power supply.
Sebastian Kosslers, DKE Standardization Manager and Head of the VDE Smart Grid Competence Center, states: "Our working group also included emergency services from the Ahr valley, fire departments and their equipment suppliers, as well as technicians, manufacturers of mobile power generators and from the fields of e-mobility and renewable energies. With a view to the role that stand-alone grids will play in the future, we also had an eye on international standardization, where microgrids, for example, are combined to form virtual power plants." Stand-alone grids are small local power grids that are independent of the rest of the power grid and can therefore help in the event of a disaster.
BBK guide as a practical aid for decision-makers: Planning so that it works in an emergency
The BBK guide provides decision-makers in companies and authorities with concrete assistance in maintaining an emergency power supply on site via electrical installations. The first step is to clarify how much electricity-dependent infrastructure there is, which areas need to be supplied with diesel generators and battery storage systems and where renewable energies are the right solution. It is also important to determine exactly how the operation will work in practice and where fuel can be stored for at least 72 hours. Why only regular tests and exercises can reveal possible weak points is also explained. Christine Eismann sums up: "If a concept like this is implemented at all relevant points within the framework of personal responsibility, then the community as a whole becomes more resilient and the consequences for all sides are less drastic. We can use the current transformation in energy generation and grid development as an opportunity to position ourselves more flexibly and better than before."
