Infographics

The overall volatility in Austria’s electricity system is primarily due to fluctuations in the production of renewable energy. To make the volatile, renewable electricity usable and transport it to where it is needed, a strong electricity grid is necessary. Redispatch measures are used to prevent overloads in the electricity grid and ensure a secure power supply. This refers to the targeted and controlled use of power plants.

In practical terms, this means that when there is a risk of line overloads in the electricity grid, targeted interventions in Austria’s power plant fleet and those of neighboring countries, as well as in flexible consumers, must be carried out to counteract the issue in a controlled manner.

Insufficient grid capacity causes bottlenecks in the electricity grid and results in high redispatch costs, which are ultimately passed on to electricity customers.

A negative effect, in addition to the costs and rising CO2 consumption, is the curtailment of renewable power plant production: For example, wind power plants or run-of-river power plants that would be producing electricity at a certain time are shut down to avoid overloads in the electricity grid.

Redispatch of power plants brutally exposes the deficits in the grid infrastructure.