Method for operating an autonomous energy supply network which comprises a number of energy producers and a number of energy consumers, wherein a local control device which is adapted to drive the energy producers and/or the energy consumers is provided, and wherein the following steps are carried out during the method: - provision of model data of the autonomous energy supply network in a data memory of a computing device superordinate to the local control device, the model data specifying the respective energy producers and their operating parameters; - determination of an operating plan for the autonomous energy supply network with the computing device by using the model data, the operating plan specifying the operating state of the autonomous energy supply network during a particular time interval; - transmission of the operating plan to the local control device; and - driving of the energy producers and/or the energy consumers according to the specifications of the operating plan by the local control device, characterized in that - the operating plan for the respective time interval comprises an overall operating plan, which specifies an electrical power at a network connection point of the autonomous energy supply network, and partial operating plans for the energy producers and/or energy consumers of the autonomous energy supply network; and - during operation of the autonomous energy supply network by the local control device, the current power balance of the autonomous energy supply network is formed as the difference between the power delivered to the autonomous energy supply network and the power drawn therefrom; - a positive reserve power and a negative reserve power of the autonomous energy supply network are determined by the local control device; wherein the positive reserve power is determined as the difference between the maximum possible power output and the actual current power output of all active energy producers and the negative reserve power is determined as the difference between the actual current power output and the minimum possible power output of all active energy producers; - the current power balance is compared with the positive and the negative reserve powers; and - the result of the comparison is used for driving the energy producers. - provision of model data of the autonomous energy supply network in a data memory of a computing device superordinate to the local control device, the model data specifying the respective energy producers and their operating parameters; - determination of an operating plan for the autonomous energy supply network with the computing device by using the model data, the operating plan specifying the operating state of the autonomous energy supply network during a particular time interval; - transmission of the operating plan to the local control device; and - driving of the energy producers and/or the energy consumers according to the specifications of the operating plan by the local control device, characterized in that - the operating plan for the respective time interval comprises an overall operating plan, which specifies an electrical power at a network connection point of the autonomous energy supply network, and partial operating plans for the energy producers and/or energy consumers of the autonomous energy supply network; and - during operation of the autonomous energy supply network by the local control device, the current power balance of the autonomous energy supply network is formed as the difference between the power delivered to the autonomous energy supply network and the power drawn therefrom; - a positive reserve power and a negative reserve power of the autonomous energy supply network are determined by the local control device; wherein the positive reserve power is determined as the difference between the maximum possible power output and the actual current power output of all active energy producers and the negative reserve power is determined as the difference between the actual current power output and the minimum possible power output of all active energy producers; - the current power balance is compared with the positive and the negative reserve powers; and - the result of the comparison is used for driving the energy producers.