Right-wing extremists are fueling fears of a blackout.
(Photo: REUTERS)
Dusseldorf Gas stove, flashlight, water, canned food, matches, candles… Are you prepared for a winter blackout? A widespread power outage lasting several hours throughout Germany? If not, off to the supermarket. At least when it comes to the recently numerous self-appointed blackout experts.
Even experienced politicians warn: “There is a risk of a complete overload of the power grid in autumn and winter,” says Union leader Friedrich Merz in every second talk show. The Rhineland stronghold of Cologne is even preparing for power outages lasting up to 72 hours. Just the thought of a big city in Germany being without electricity for three days should make even the most laid-back reveler frown. The population is correspondingly panicked.
Since the end of September, the brochure on the subject of “Power failure – prevention and self-help” from the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance has been sold out. The shelves in the supermarkets, which are otherwise bulging with toilet paper, are already getting lighter again. According to a survey, more than half of all Germans are actually afraid of a widespread power failure. This is particularly pleasing to those who have been warning about it for years.
A scenario for doomsday fans
At the latest since Marc Elsberg’s successful novel “Blackout”, in which the European power grid is paralyzed by an act of terrorism for two whole weeks, fans of the end of the world have had a new favorite scenario. From Prepper’s point of view, the turn of the millennium was unfortunately a failure. Now they see their hour has come. After all, the situation in the power grid has never been as tense as it is now.
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But no matter who you talk to in the energy industry: everyone thinks a blackout is almost impossible. Of course, no one would say that in public. Acts of terrorism, sabotage or natural disasters can always happen and can hardly be prevented. Tens of thousands of people in the Ahr Valley had to experience this painfully themselves last year. Parts of the population were without electricity for several weeks. Even that wasn’t a blackout, however.
A blackout describes the uncontrolled collapse of large parts of the entire European power grid. If there were a large-scale, unforeseeable power failure in Germany, this could of course lead to a blackout. However, experts regard this scenario as virtually impossible when it comes to the tense supply situation this winter.
In the very worst case, parts of the population will have to go without electricity for a maximum of four hours. And even that would be planned, controlled and with advance notice. Incidentally, such measures are not uncommon in other countries to keep the network stable. For example in France or Italy. Chaos looks different.
But the hypothetical blackout has long since become a political battleground. And this danger weighs much more heavily than that of a blackout. The right-wing extremist AfD particularly exploits the insecurity of the citizens. At demonstrations, they chant slogans like: “The question is not if, but when it will happen.”
The wrong argument for nuclear power
They warn of looting, scarce drinking water and that emergency services can no longer be called. The “European Institute for Climate & Energy” (Eike), which denies man-made climate change, also joins in the chorus. The Union is using the situation to boost its new favorite topic – nuclear power. As if a power plant had the power to prevent a blackout (spoilers: it doesn’t).
It’s almost ironic that the currently coveted fan heaters could become one of the biggest challenges for the German power grid. Concerned citizens are currently buying the electricity-powered heaters en masse in case the domestic thermal bath stays cold in winter due to a lack of gas.
Should all Germans then turn on their power-guzzling heaters at the same time, the unforeseen load could actually bring the power grid to a halt. But don’t worry: This power outage would also remain local and would not tear the entire country into the abyss. In order to get the electricity back on, the fan heaters would have to be switched off – otherwise the fuse in the transformer box around the corner wouldn’t stay in place. But the doomsday fantasists don’t care. You are finally prepared.
More: Worst scenario: 72 hours of power failure – This is how a blackout in winter should be prevented