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Market-based procurement of reactive power in accordance with Section 12h EnWG

Automatically translated with deepl.com.

The TSOs submitted their own statement on the final report of the ministerial reactive power commission in October 2019, which primarily addresses the aspect of system security.

At the beginning of 2023, the Federal Network Agency initiated a determination procedure in accordance with “Sections 12h (5), 29 (1) EnWG on the specifications and technical requirements for the transparent, non-discriminatory and market-based procurement of the non-frequency-based system service ‘voltage regulation services (’reactive power”).

This determination was published on 25.06.2024 with the associated decision on the website of the Federal Network Agency in Germany.


The contracting of reactive power and / or work is carried out by grid operators of extra-high and high-voltage grids for suitable installations on their grid.

The grid operators currently envisage the following time frame for the first procurement in accordance with the stipulation:

  • 12 months after determination, operators of high-voltage grids are obliged to invite tenders for market-based reactive power in at least one region if reactive power is required.
  • The grid operator must have initiated market-based procurement for all grid regions by 36 months after determination if there is a demand.
  • The first tenders will be announced by the TSOs on Netztransparenz.de by mid-2025. Individual transmission system operators start with tenders in Q1.

First awards to suppliers for reactive power and reactive energy to be made by the end of 2025

The “Reactive power” procurement concept BK6-23-072 regulates the framework for

  • Conditions for participation
  • Product definitions (e.g. secured or unsecured provision)
  • Deadlines
  • Announcement
  • Evaluation of bids and award of contract
  • Remuneration and invoicing (provision outside the limits according to TAB is eligible for remuneration)
  • Publication obligations, e.g. regarding model contract and price caps used


In order to prepare for the start of tenders for the market-based procurement of reactive power, an exemplary model contract is provided here for queries. 

Provider consultation of the model contract

The grid operators have drafted a model contract for the future procurement of reactive power, which will be available here from 07.04.2025 - 30.04.2025. 

Model Contract

The model contract will only be published for the consultation period and will not be updated. During this period, potential suppliers of reactive power can submit comments and questions to the TSOs at the e-mail addresses below. Sending the feedback to one of the four TSOs is sufficient.

Contact to the TSOs

If you have any questions about the model contract for the market-based procurement of reactive power, please contact the responsible TSO.

As far as possible and appropriate, the comments will be taken into account when finalizing the model contract for the formal start of market-based procurement of reactive power. The model contract and its annexes will be detailed and adapted by the respective access network operator in the course of a specific procurement based on the individual requirements.

Announcement of the procurement

By 25.6.2025 at the latest, all four TSOs must start procurement procedures for the procurement of the non-frequency-bound ancillary service “voltage regulation services” (“reactive power”) in an initial procurement region if there is a need. Detailed information on the respective procurement procedures can be found promptly on the websites of the individual TSOs and are linked here. At the beginning of 2025, only 50 Hz has already started procurement: 50Hz - Market-based procurement of reactive power.

Amprion will start the tendering process for the market-based procurement of reactive power in June 2025 (link to website in German). 8 out of 9 procurement regions will be put out to tender for unsecured reactive power.

Suppliers with the connection grid operator Amprion that fulfil the conditions of participation and do not exceed the price cap with their bid can be awarded a contract.

The reactive power that can be provided by the supplier at the time of the tender outside the currently valid TAB of the connection grid operator can be offered on the market.

Amprion would like to provide the following information in preparation for the tender:

  • Amprion will invite tenders for reactive power in the voltage-reducing direction,
  • the required minimum bid size (package size) is 20Mvar,
  • data required for the call-off and billing of reactive power will be exchanged in accordance with the valid grid management contracts,
  • reactive power will be called off using the characteristic curve method.

The model contract, the exact product requirements, the tender quantities and the price cap will be published with the invitation to tender.