Power demand and power generation must be in balance. This is the only way for electricity to be available at any time and at any place in sufficient quantities. This presupposes careful coordination, as electricity cannot be stored. It has to be generated at the time it is used.

Our experts record the daily fluctuating power demand and then utilise the power stations as economically as possible. In doing so, a distinction is made between three performance ranges:

Basic load power stations
These work around the clock. These power stations are operated with particularly inexpensive primary energy. For the basic load, we predominantly use running-water, brown coal and nuclear power stations.

Medium load power stations
They are more flexible in operation, i.e. they are quicker to be started up and shut down. Their construction costs are lower, their energy costs however higher than those of the basic load power stations. This group includes mainly hard coal fired power stations, but partly also gas and oil fired power stations.

Peak load power stations
They start from a standstill within minutes to peak output. As they only work during short periods of peak demand, their operating costs are of minor importance. Peak load power stations are for instance gas turbine, storage and pump storage power stations.