Security of electricity supply: Luxembourg remains vigilant and prepares for the future

The Minister for Energy, Claude Turmes, explains: "Currently, the risk of power outages is no higher than in previous years. In order to ensure real-time information on the supply situation, we have set up a new tool, the "StroumMonitor", together with Creos. We remain vigilant and prepared: Should the situation worsen, we have all the necessary crisis tools at our disposal."

Luxembourg is well positioned  - but the risk of interruptions can never be excluded

According to the winter outlook report of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), Luxembourg is one of the Central European countries where the analysis leads to the conclusion that the risk of shortages is currently no higher than historically.

Specific modelling by German electricity network operators ("Stresstest") confirmed this analysis.

Preparing for risks: the risk preparedness plan for the electricity sector is updated

In order to take into account the new geopolitical situation and the energy crisis which also affects the electricity sector, an update of Luxembourg's risk preparedness plan has been prepared by the Ministry of Energy and Spatial Planning, in close cooperation with the Energy Taskforce established by the Government Council, the High Commission for National Protection (HCPN), the grid operator Creos and the FEDIL

The plan has been supplemented with various preventive measures, to deal with an anticipated electricity shortage, and with an improved description of the related measures.

This plan defines three phases in security of supply: "Prevention", "Early Warning" and "Crisis".

1. Prevention
   In this phase, which corresponds to the default situation, security of supply monitoring is guaranteed to ensure a secure supply of electricity.
2. Early warning
   An early warning is declared following the detection of a tangible and specific risk to the security of electricity supply. The measures in this phase are aimed at preventing the progression of the detected risk to an actual crisis.
   When this phase is triggered, the HCPN's "Energy Emergency Response Plan" includes the activation of a power failure risk assessment unit.
3. Crisis
   The crisis phase represents a blackout that is about to occur or a blackout that has already occurred. The measures in this phase aim to mitigate the impact of the crisis on society.
   If  manual load shedding is decided, a priority list establishes a load shedding order. Households and critical infrastructure will be offloaded last.
   When a crisis is triggered, the "Energy Emergency Response Plan" includes the activation of a crisis unit. In addition, the crisis must be notified to the European Union.

Ensuring real-time transparency: the "StroumMonitor"

The "StroumMonitor" tool (available at www.creos.lu) has been set up to indicate peak consumption times and to alert the population in the event of a power shortage in an efficient and comprehensible manner.

The "StroumMonitor"  is a real electricity weather forecast, describing the national level of electricity supply in Luxembourg. Clear signals from the grid operator Creos guide consumers to do the right thing and ensure a secure supply of electricity for all. The "StroumMonitor"  alerts the population in the event of an electricity shortage (orange or red signal, depending on the criticality of the situation). In addition, it also shows the daily peak consumption hours (with white bars):

1. Green: "Power grid in balance  - but let's be aware of our consumption".
2. Orange: "Strained power grid  - Let's try to reduce our consumption".
3. Red: "Very tense power grid  - Let's limit our consumption to avoid any blackout".
4. White bars: "Peak hours".

Even when the signal is green, it is advisable to be aware of your own consumption. If we act more responsibly in our everyday lives, we can make a more conscious contribution to climate protection and reduce our energy bills at the same time. These gestures are particularly welcome during peak hours, indicated by white bars, in order to make the electricity system more flexible and to limit the production of electricity from fossil fuels, in particular gas.

For more information and tips on how to use less electricity, visit www.zesumme-spueren.lu.

Press release by the Ministry of Energy and Spatial Planning