The Future of Energy Supply: Experts Shed Light on Blackout Scenario

At a time when dependence on electrical energy is growing inexorably, the question of the resilience of our power grids is becoming increasingly urgent. Against this backdrop, a panel discussion on the topic of blackouts took place on 22 February 2024, organized by the Austrian Electrotechnical Association (OVE) and its Young Engineers in cooperation with the Faculty of Electronic Engineering & Entrepreneurship at UAS Technikum Wien. High-caliber experts from various fields shed light on the challenges and solutions for dealing with large-scale power outages.

Sylvia Geyer, Rector of UAS Technikum Wien, began by welcoming the numerous participants and emphasized the importance of the event in the context of resilience and risk management. Moderator Fabian Zavarsky, (Himself a graduate of UAS Technikum Wien – Master’s Degree Power Electronics), led through the evening and opened the discussion with an introduction to the tasks of the OVE and the role of the Young Engineers Platform for aspiring technicians.

Situation of the Austrian electricity grid

Kurt Misak from Austrian Power Grid (APG) gave an informative presentation on the state of the Austrian electricity grid. He not only highlighted current capacities and challenges, but also discussed future prospects up to 2030. Thomas Schuster (Wiener Netze) was unfortunately unable to attend due to illness.

According to Misak, around 60-70 TWh of electricity is consumed in Austria each year, around 10 GWh per day. Peak consumption is around 30 GWh. The average household consumes around 3,500 kWh per year. Domestic electricity storage systems can currently store around 5 percent of annual consumption (approx. 3 TWh). A major challenge at present is that there is no 380 kV line from west to east in Austria.
In future, 1,280 km of lines will have to be laid in Austria to cover electricity peaks that cannot be supplied by renewable energies. For example, when extreme weather situations such as flooding, drought or hail mean that power plants are unable to supply electricity at short notice. According to Misak, an electricity shortage situation in Austria is much more likely than a blackout.

The only blackout in Austria to date occurred on April 13, 1976, but Misak made it clear that it is therefore impossible to say whether and when another blackout could occur – although this does not currently pose an acute threat. However, he pointed out potential challenges with regard to the power supply. He emphasized the need for rapid grid expansion and highlighted the complexity of the transition to renewable energies.

Discussion round with the Vienna Fire Brigade and Austrian Power Grid

What to do if there is a large-scale power failure? What preliminary stages are there before the worst-case scenario occurs and how is the professional fire department in Vienna prepared for possible scenarios? These and other questions were discussed in the following panel discussion. Both Kurt Misak and Dominik Zeidler from the Vienna professional fire department presented their views on preparing for power outages and the role of civil defense. The importance of passing on information to the population and the need for forward-looking planning were rated as particularly important.

Battery-powered radio and food supplies for up to 7 days

Dominik Zeidler (Vienna Professional Fire Brigade) emphasized the importance of timely planning and preparation in the event of power cuts that may be necessary in the future. He emphasized that critical infrastructures such as the police, emergency services, fire department, prisons and hospitals have already taken appropriate measures to be prepared for a power shortage situation. These facilities are essential for maintaining public safety and health and must therefore remain operational even in crisis situations. As an example, he cited the approximately 55,000 elevators in Vienna, for whose safe use appropriate precautions have been taken even during power outages.

In the event of a planned power cut or blackout, it is very important for the population to be informed about the next steps. He therefore recommends having battery-operated radios at home, as these would continue to work even in the event of a power, cell phone or internet network failure. According to Zeidler, households should have sufficient food supplies for up to 7 days in the event of a blackout.

The subsequent questions from the audience reflected the interest in new technologies and solutions, with both the role of decentralized energy generation and the challenges of decarbonization being discussed. The experts emphasized the importance of innovation and the need for a joint effort by all stakeholders.

Securing the Power Grid: Highly Complex Challenges

In conclusion, the discussion made it clear that a resilient energy supply requires not only technological progress, but also the active participation of the population and close cooperation between authorities, companies and civil society. The themed evening ended with a get-together, which gave participants the opportunity to continue exchanging ideas and making contacts.

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