diff --git a/config/config.default.yaml b/config/config.default.yaml
index 6974d382..d64a36c5 100644
--- a/config/config.default.yaml
+++ b/config/config.default.yaml
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ electricity:
 
   powerplants_filter: (DateOut >= 2023 or DateOut != DateOut) and not (Country == 'Germany' and Fueltype == 'Nuclear')
   custom_powerplants: false
-  everywhere_powerplants: [nuclear, oil, OCGT, CCGT, coal, lignite, geothermal, biomass]
+  everywhere_powerplants: []
 
   conventional_carriers: [nuclear, oil, OCGT, CCGT, coal, lignite, geothermal, biomass]
   renewable_carriers: [solar, solar-hsat, onwind, offwind-ac, offwind-dc, offwind-float, hydro]
diff --git a/doc/release_notes.rst b/doc/release_notes.rst
index 3bc77f40..a7e91f97 100644
--- a/doc/release_notes.rst
+++ b/doc/release_notes.rst
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ Release Notes
 Upcoming Release
 ================
 
+* Disable option ``electricity: everywhere_powerplants``` by default to save memory in :mod:`simplify_network`.
+
 * Non-essential example configuration files have been moved to
   ``config/examples``.