December 15, 2022, 11:12 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Due to the energy crisis, there has been increasing debate about possible measures and consequences. How can we prevent energy from becoming increasingly scarce? One term that frequently comes up in the discussion is the so-called “brownout.” What it entails and how it differs from a blackout.
Germany’s power supply is considered very secure. Nevertheless, there is ongoing speculation about how to save energy and counteract the crisis. Various measures are being discussed. One of them is the so-called brownout, which involves planned power outages. This article explores how likely a brownout is in Germany, how long it would last, and how it differs from a blackout.
The Difference Between a Brownout and a Blackout
The biggest difference between a blackout and a brownout lies mainly in the severity and urgency. While a brownout is controlled, a blackout is uncontrolled and unpredictable. Here’s an overview of the differences:
Brownout
A brownout involves controlled power outages. This may become necessary when the amount of electricity produced is insufficient compared to demand, according to the website of the Federal Network Agency. This situation can arise due to a fuel shortage for power plants or generally low production, such as “unavailability of generation facilities,” the site further explains. It would then be necessary to reduce demand so that supply can fully meet it again.
Blackout
In contrast, a blackout is an uncontrolled, unpredictable, and widespread power outage. It is not triggered by an energy shortage. The causes are varied. “It is a highly complex system that can be disrupted by technical and human failures and increasing threats such as extreme weather events, acts of sabotage, or cyberattacks,” explains Kilian Hoffmeister from the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance to myHOMEBOOK.
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What Happens During a Brownout
A brownout is triggered when the demand for electricity is too high, leading to planned power outages. According to the Federal Network Agency, a possible scenario for a brownout could look like this: Citizens are informed in advance that their power supply will be interrupted. This involves a fixed period. Additionally, not all citizens would be affected at once. Planned power outages would only occur regionally.
This system would continue until supply and demand for electricity are balanced again. This process is called “rolling blackout,” meaning different households would be affected one after the other to minimize restrictions for everyone.
Who would be affected first by such controlled power outages is not predetermined. Unlike the gas sector, there are no protected customers or other prioritizations in electricity supply, according to the Federal Network Agency.
How Long Does a Brownout Last?
According to the Federal Network Agency, a brownout, like other occasional power outages, would be limited to a few hours. An exact number is not specified, but there is frequent mention of a duration of up to 90 minutes.
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How Likely Is a Brownout?
The Federal Network Agency and the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance state that Germany’s power supply is very secure. Network operators have numerous mechanisms and reserves to stabilize the power grid in tense situations. A brownout would only occur if all other measures have been exhausted.
“The Federal Network Agency considers the likelihood of forced, large-scale load reduction in the coming winter to be low. The likelihood decreases the more everyone contributes to saving in a tense grid situation,” according to the Federal Network Agency’s website.
Risks of Local Power Outages
If there is a power outage over a certain period, it can have various effects. In private households, for example, refrigerators would defrost, elevators would stop working, and in the worst case, people could get stuck in them. There could also be problems in road traffic. For instance, no prioritizations for traffic lights could be made during outages, according to Stromnetz Hamburg, as reported by ZDF.
There would also be issues with making phone calls. Landline phones require a power supply and would not function accordingly. Cell towers for mobile coverage are also powered by electricity. The existing backup batteries would keep the mobile network running for only half an hour.
In the economic sector, planned power outages could lead to significant economic damage, such as when machines are damaged during a power outage. Hospitals, police stations, and fire departments, however, are part of critical infrastructure. If a brownout is planned, efforts would be made to ensure that as little critical infrastructure as possible is affected, explains energy expert Tobias Frederico on ZDF.