Visit to Austrian Power Grid (APG)

On 16 October 2024 a CdH delegation visited the National Control Centre of Austrian Power Grid (APG) - Austria’s electricity transmission system operator.

In close cooperation with the transmission system operators in the neighbouring European countries, APG monitors, coordinates and controls cross-border electricity flows and, within the framework of ENTSO-E (European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity), guarantees a long-term and sustainable electricity supply in Austria and central Europe. As control area manager, Austrian Power Grid AG is required by law to provide for a stable, secure transmission grid, especially considering Austria’s central role in the European electricity market.

The “Power Grid Control” Centre was commissioned in south-east Vienna in 2009. It forms the nerve centre of the Austrian transmission grid. The facility is characterized not only by its striking architecture, but also by the modern and state-of-the-art technology that is employed.

Dipl.-Ing. Kurt Misak, Head of the department Security of Supply and Operational Energy Economics, started the program with a comprehensive and impressive presentation explaining the activities and responsibilities of APG.  In his very comitted presentation Mr Misak described the nature and functioning of the Austrian national grid and of the wider electricity distribution network in the European region surrounding Austria.  At the same time he clarified many of the related technologies and technicalities of the subject and outlined many of the current and future challenges facing the sector, especially in relation to guaranteeing the supply of electricity to industrial and domestic consumers in the region. He emphasized the urgent necessity to modernize and strenghten the electric grid including the high voltage 380 kv lines. With the volatile production of wind and solar energy the net is faced with a serious challenge. APG is in charge for balancing electric losses to guarantee the stability of the grid. As it was mentioned before Austria is one of the 40 members of ENTSO-E, the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity which apart from Great Britain comprises Europe including Turkey, Ukraine and the Baltic States. ENTSO-E and its members fulfil a common mission: Ensuring the security of the interconnected power system in all time frames at pan-European level. APG is an active member of the Network in the heart of Europe.

The presentation was followed by a most interesting tour of the control room as well as the huge outdoor area of the substation where electricity is taken from the high voltage cross-country supply and transformed to lower voltages for distribution to local south-eastern Vienna regions. The main features of the installations and their functions were explained.