Overview

• The Bundesnetzagentur’s Versorgungssicherheitsbericht says Germany needs 22 gigawatts of fast-dispatch capacity if the transition stays on track or 35.5 gigawatts if it lags, with all assets required by 2035.
• Economy Minister Katherina Reiche responded that new gas-fired units must be built, aligning with the coalition’s target of roughly 20 gigawatts and bolstering her case with EU authorities for capacity procurement.
• The ministry-commissioned Realitätscheck was completed by August 31 and is set to be presented within days, with terms that allow recommendations independent of previous government scenarios.
• Reiche favors CCS‑ready designs over hydrogen-ready plants, a stance criticized by experts who question costs, technical viability, and climate performance, while alternative analyses such as Frontier Economics estimate only 5–10 gigawatts may be needed.
• The regulator stresses that faster renewable build-out and demand-side flexibility from heat pumps, electric vehicles, and green hydrogen could substantially lower backup requirements if market and infrastructure enablers are in place.