Relief Regions

Relief regions: trial phase

For the trial phase from October 2024 to September 2026, the transmission system operators (TSOs) have defined eight relief regions in which participants can take part in the Section 13k “ Use instead of curtail” instrument. These regions were selected on the basis of historical data, experience from the operational 4 TSO processes and taking grid planning aspects into account. The corresponding map, which has already been published in the TSO implementation concept, is shown below. Further details on the congestion relief regions can also be found in the TSO implementation concept.

Target model for relief regions

For the target model covering the period from 1 October 2026, the transmission system operators (TSOs) have retained but expanded the eight relief regions in which participants can take part in the Section 13k ‘Benefit instead of curtailment’ scheme. These regions were selected on the basis of historical data, experience gained from the operational processes of the four TSOs, and taking into account grid planning considerations. The corresponding map, which has already been published in the TSO implementation concept, is shown below. Further details on the relief regions can also be found in the TSO implementation concept.

In addition, the TSOs would like to offer all those interested in Section 13k EnWG the opportunity to find out about the intended developments of the relief regions with the outlook for future relief regions. The outlook for the congestion relief regions is based on the planning status of the grid requirements, the foreseeable expansion of renewable energy, the concerns of the operational processes and the current expansion of the transmission grids and takes into account the completion dates of grid expansion projects from today's perspective. Due to the dependence on the further expansion of the transmission grids, the following disclaimer applies: 

There are plans to expand the relief regions in the future. The relief regions from the trial phase (from 2024) are to remain in place. The specific affiliation of the future relief regions has not yet been determined and is therefore not shown.