Renewable energies are supposed to gradually replace the more climate-damaging conventional energy sources in Germany in order to drive forward the energy transition. However, skeptics often claim that if the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing, there is a risk of a dark doldrums - and if coal and nuclear power plants are missing, the power supply will collapse. Therefore, conventional power plants are considered essential for the security of supply in Germany. But do we really need to fear dark doldrums if we continue to expand wind and solar energy?
The term "dark doldrums" refers to the simultaneous occurrence of darkness and calm winds. This means that for several days or weeks, there is little to no wind blowing and, at the same time, darkness prevails due to weather or the time of year. This can pose a challenge, especially for energy generation from wind and solar, as during a dark doldrums, wind turbines and solar panels produce little to no electricity. When low temperatures prevail and energy demand increases, it is referred to as a cold dark doldrums. This typically occurs, especially in the first two months of the year.
In Germany, we use electricity at all times of day or night. We have a base load, that is, a permanent consumption of about 40 to 80 gigawatts, with peak demand reaching up to 90 gigawatts. In some situations, renewable energies may not be able to meet these demands. This is when the so-called control power comes into play: energy from conventional gas power plants. According to a 2019 report by the Fraunhofer Institute, the capacity of these power plants is sufficient even after shutting down nuclear and coal-fired power plants. There is currently excess capacity of conventional power plants across Europe that could be reduced. Moreover, it has been simulated on a computer that in 60 million scenarios involving periods of low wind and solar power and power plant failures, there have been no power outages in Germany.
Even if the wind is not blowing, wind energy has been one of the most important sources of electricity for several years. In 2023, the share of wind power in Germany's total electricity generation was just under 27%, followed by lignite, natural gas, photovoltaics, hard coal, and biomass . In combination with other energy sources, supply security can be ensured during Dark Doldrums.
The concern about power outages during a dark doldrum is understandable but largely unfounded. Advancements in energy technology and the integration of diverse energy sources ensure that Germany will be reliably supplied with electricity even when wind and sunlight are lacking. With a robust mix of renewable energies and the necessary control power from conventional power plants, the energy supply is secure for the future. The continuous development and improvement of storage technologies, as well as the Europe-wide network of energy providers, also contribute to ensuring that Germany is not left in the dark.
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