Inertia

Inertia

What is inertia?

Inertia is a short-term, immediate and inherent response to imbalances in the electricity grid, which limits the rate of change of frequency and supports frequency stability. Until now, inertia has mainly been provided by synchronous generators in conventional power plants. In the future, grid-forming converters will also play a vital role in the provision of inertia.

Market launch and implementation

According to Article 12h of the Energy Industry Act (EnWG), transmission system operators are obliged to procure inertia in a market-based procedure. The basis for this is the BK6-23-010 decision of the Federal Network Agency. Since 22 January 2026, inertia is procured by transmission system operators on a market-based basis.Detailed information on market design, products, prices, demands and current information can be found on the Netztransparenz website on market-based procurement of inertia.