Attacks on power grids: Easy target for terrorist or sabotage acts

Two new attacks on the power grid have alarmed energy sector professionals and politicians, with incidents occurring in southern Brandenburg and near Cologne. The assaults have raised concerns over the vulnerability of critical infrastructure, with officials warning that such facilities are central to daily life. North Rhine-Westphalia’s Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) described an substation as “no simple shed with a few cables,” but rather “a nerve center for our everyday lives.” He emphasized that targeting such sites equates to attacking the country itself. The attacks have sparked fears within the industry that current measures might be insufficient. Ingbert Liebing, head of the Association of Municipal Enterprises, urged federal and state authorities to collaborate with operators to develop and fund protection strategies. He stressed that the government must not shift its responsibility for public safety onto companies. A new criminal offense in Germany has been proposed to address threats posed by drones. The German Energy and Water Industry Federation (BDEW) has called for urgent action, citing years of drone flights over critical infrastructure that could potentially aid malicious actors in planning sabotage. A draft position paper, dated Monday, just one day before the attacks, warned that these flights could serve as preparation for attacks. The document urges the federal and state governments to introduce immediate measures to detect drones more quickly and identify their origins. Among the proposals is the introduction of large-scale flight restriction zones under the planned U-Space law, which would cover critical infrastructure. To ensure legal consequences for violations, the Criminal Code should be amended with a new section similar to the existing offense of dangerous interference with rail traffic. The BDEW also suggests that the federal government take charge of creating threat assessments and countering drone activity. This is because disruptions in the power grid could theoretically affect the European interconnected network. Quick response is crucial, as there are only seconds or minutes between detection and potential damage. Currently, general threat prevention is a state responsibility, although the newly established Joint Drone Defense Center, set up towards the end of 2025, is still in its early stages. In Brandenburg, Interior Minister Jan Redmann (CDU) recently suggested that operators of critical infrastructure should be allowed to install technology capable of detecting and intercepting drones. While the BDEW does not fundamentally oppose this idea, it insists that such measures should remain voluntary. It advocates for state funding through a resilience fund and exemption from liability for operators. Normally, customers pay for the work of grid operators via tariffs. Smaller operators could outsource drone detection to technical service providers. Meanwhile, Mecklenburg has already passed a new Security and Order Act. Although the implementing regulations are yet to be finalized, the legislation empowers facility operators, to act independently if police intervention is not possible, to deploy technical means against drones and their control systems. This could include using so-called “jamming” devices to disrupt and monitor drones. The Federal Association for the Protection of Critical Infrastructure (BSKI) criticizes the continued operation of the power grid in a “peaceful mode,” making it an easy target for terrorism or sabotage. Despite provisions under the new KRITIS umbrella law allowing for removal of information online, the power transmission network is precisely mapped on freely available online platforms, enabling planning for attacks. Hans-Walter Borries, vice president of the association, pointed out that unlike in Ukraine, where such detailed mapping is less accessible, the situation in Germany presents a clear risk.