Who is Claudia Kemfert and why is she in the news?

Claudia Kemfert is a German energy economist. She is in the news for urging a backup power mandate in new buildings after fresh concerns about Germany blackout risk. Her proposal centers on critical infrastructure security and aims to reduce outage impacts on hospitals, data centers, industry, and households.

What is a backup power mandate for new buildings?

A backup power mandate would require certain new buildings to include systems like batteries, fuel cells, or generators. The goal is to keep essential services running during outages. Scope could start with critical facilities and expand, with clear capacity thresholds, maintenance rules, and integration with solar or energy‑efficient equipment.

How could this affect costs for builders and tenants?

Upfront costs may rise due to storage systems, controls, and maintenance plans. Over time, avoided downtime, smoother operations, and possible insurance benefits can offset expenses. Tenants in data centers, logistics, and healthcare often value reliability, which can support rents and occupancy, especially if local codes reward resilient design.

Will a mandate eliminate Germany blackout risk?

No policy can fully eliminate risk, but distributed backup reduces damage from outages and speeds recovery. By keeping priority sites online, the grid faces less stress and communities stay safer. A mandate also improves data on readiness through inspections and logs, which helps authorities and operators invest where it matters most.

Global Market Insights

February 02: Claudia Kemfert Pushes Backup Power Mandate in Germany

ByDanny Kontos February 2, 2026February 2, 2026

Claudia Kemfert put Germany blackout risk back in the spotlight by urging a backup power mandate for new buildings. The push follows reports of exposed high‑voltage lines and a recent Berlin outage. For investors, this debate ties directly to critical infrastructure security, grid resilience, and future capex. We explain what may change, who could benefit, and how portfolios can align with potential demand for batteries, microgrids, and protection technologies across Germany.