Control power plays a crucial role in the stability of electricity grids, as it serves to balance short-term fluctuations between electricity generation and consumption. In an electrical grid that is dependent on maintaining a frequency of 50 Hertz, as is the case in Austria and other European countries, balancing power ensures the necessary balance. Fluctuations can be caused by unexpected changes in electricity demand or fluctuations in electricity generation, particularly from renewable sources. Control power ensures that the grid remains stable and outages are avoided.

There are three types of balancing power, which are activated at different speeds: Primary, secondary and tertiary control power. These differ in their response time and the duration of provision.

1. Primary control power is activated within seconds of a frequency deviation and is used to immediately stabilize the grid. As a rule, it is provided by a large number of power plants in a European interconnected grid in order to compensate for load fluctuations.
2. Secondary control power is activated a few minutes after the fault. It takes over from the primary control power in order to stabilize the grid in the medium term. In Austria, this power is usually provided by flexible power plants that can quickly adjust their power generation.
3. Tertiary control power, also known as minute reserve, is used to remedy longer imbalances and compensate for larger fluctuations. This power is provided by reserve power plants that can ramp their output up or down within 15 minutes.

In Austria, control power is provided and coordinated by the transmission system operator Austrian Power Grid (APG). APG continuously monitors the electricity grid and provides balancing power as required. In a highly interconnected European electricity market, Austria works closely with other countries in order to be able to access their balancing power if necessary. This cross-border cooperation is coordinated by the ENTSO-E network(European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity).

A particular challenge for the provision of balancing power is the increasing integration of renewable energies. As renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy are highly dependent on the weather, they can cause short-term fluctuations in the grid that need to be balanced out by balancing power. With the increase in this volatile generation, the need for flexible balancing power plants that can compensate for these fluctuations will continue to increase in the future.

The provision of balancing power also has an economic dimension. In Austria and other European countries, balancing capacity is traded on special markets. Energy suppliers and grid operators can secure capacities there, which are activated when required. Remuneration is paid both for the provision of capacity and for its actual activation. This market is becoming increasingly competitive, which opens up access for alternative providers such as operators of battery storage systems or flexible industrial capacities.

In addition to traditional power plants, storage technologies such as battery storage and pumped storage power plants will become increasingly important for the provision of balancing power in the future. These can react particularly quickly to fluctuations and offer a sustainable solution for dealing with the challenges of a changing energy system.

Overall, balancing power is an indispensable component of the electricity supply in Austria and Europe. It not only enables grid stability, but also the integration of renewable energies without jeopardizing security of supply. In view of the ongoing energy transition, the importance of balancing power will continue to increase in the coming years, with new technologies and markets playing an important role.