The planned gas power plant in the port of Hamburg should not only provide heat, but also make the power supply more reliable.
In the event of a widespread power failure, the gas and steam turbine system (CCGT) on the Dradenau can be started up with the help of batteries and combustion engines, the environmental authority said.
The system will then initially enable the Tiefstack combined heat and power plant in Hamburg-Billbrook to start up again.
If both systems are running, the Hamburg power grid will have an output of more than 400 megawatts according to the plan.
By 2030 at the latest, the Tiefstack combined heat and power plant is to be operated with gas instead of hard coal.
The Hamburger Energiewerke and the municipal company Stromnetz Hamburg agreed on Monday the so-called black start concept.
The environmental authority spoke of an "alliance against a blackout".
"For us, Dradenau's black start capability is an important safeguard in the event of a blackout," said Thomas Volk, Managing Director of Stromnetz Hamburg.
This would make it possible to rebuild the supply for Hamburg in some areas.
Contribution to security of supply in the event of cyber attacks
“In times when the danger of cyber attacks is omnipresent, we have to take precautions and make ourselves less vulnerable.
A large-scale blackout would have serious consequences for our entire community," said Environment Senator Jens Kerstan (Greens).
The managing director of Hamburger Energiewerke, Christian Heine, said: "In the future, our combined cycle power plant on the Dradenau will not only make a significant contribution to climate protection, but also to security of supply in Hamburg." The power plant on the Dradenau is scheduled to go into operation in 2025.