Dark lull alarm in January: Are there a threat of power outages at dinner time?

Dark lull alarm in January: Are there a threat of power outages at dinner time?

In the looming January chaos of 2024, German households fear a bleak scenario: brownouts! A power supply crisis could suddenly become a reality between 5 and 6 p.m., warns RWE boss Markus Krebber. The current power supply, which was barely maintained in November, looks even more critical in January. Last time, Germany was able to get itself out of trouble by importing electricity, but the potential for rapidly increasing consumption is leaving nerves on edge.

The damned “dark doldrums”, the lack of wind and the missing sun sound harmless, but this is a serious threat. After all, solar systems combined with wind power sometimes even lead to an oversupply, but things get tight when there is no wind and gray weather. The latest November data from the Federal Network Agency paint a clear picture of the critical evening hour: cooking food, turning on the lights, pumping heat. All of these evening activities drive up consumption and could lead to controlled shutdowns during power shortages.

Danger in the household or just hot air?

Brownouts – what a drama lies behind this inconspicuous term! Regardless of whether the voltage drops gradually or the power is switched off for a short time, households first notice it when the lights flicker. And what happens then to all the electrical devices? No panic! Most devices survive as if nothing had happened. Even when the plug is unplugged, laptops and cell phones stay cool thanks to their batteries. It only becomes annoying if the data is insecure or the clock on the stove – it has to be reset.

Gas instead of darkness

The switch to renewable energies reveals its dark side and politicians are under pressure to act. A new strategy with gas-fired power plants has already been proposed, which could provide electricity despite any capricious weather. But the last word has not yet been spoken, and the German traffic light alliance's slow decision-making is making utilities uneasy. Meanwhile, the electricity market remains the last bulwark against the blackout, driving up electricity prices and thus curbing consumption.