Emergency generators and CHP plants

Emergency generators and smaller combined heat and power plants (CHP plants) can contribute to the electricity reserve via aggregators. These systems pool several emergency generators and smaller CHP plants into a single unit, so that they can be deployed for the electricity reserve as if they were a single power plant. Currently, around 300MW of pooled emergency generators are available through five different aggregators. Once the new legislation comes into force, the national grid operator will launch tenders. As the results of these tenders are not expected to be available until early 2028, an interim solution is required for the availability periods 2026/27 and 2027/28. Under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (OAPC), emergency generators may be operated for a maximum of 50 hours per year. Due to these limited operating times, less stringent requirements apply to emergency generators than to stationary internal combustion engines with operating times exceeding 50 hours per year. Where possible, emergency generators that contribute to the electricity reserve should be upgraded to stationary engines.