Electricity In Austria: Powering The Alpine Nation

Austria has a highly reliable electricity supply network, with over 80% of its electricity production sourced from renewables as of 2023. The country's landscape, with its mountainous terrain, abundant rivers, and plentiful precipitation, makes it an ideal location for hydropower development. As a result, hydropower is the main source of electricity production in Austria, contributing about 67% of the electricity supply. In addition to hydroelectric power, wind energy and solar power also play significant roles in the country's energy mix.

Hydropower is Austria's main electricity source

Austria's landscape, a combination of mountainous terrain, abundant rivers, and plentiful precipitation, makes the country a perfect location for hydropower development. With over a century of history and expansion in the sector, Austria's hydropower generation stood at above 36 terawatt-hours in 2022, ranking fifth in Europe. The Alpine country also boasts one of the largest pumped hydropower storage capacities in the region, at almost 5.6 gigawatts.

Austria's leading electricity company operates around 100 large hydropower stations and thousands of small hydropower plants, including highly efficient storage power plants in the Austrian Alps and run-of-river power plants on all the country's major rivers. Run-of-river power stations produce power around the clock, while pumped storage power stations store energy and supply electricity to consumers as required.

Austria has set itself the target of meeting 100% of its annual electricity needs from renewable sources by 2030. The country's last coal-fired power plant was closed in 2020, and renewables already account for over three-quarters of the country's electricity production.

Austria's renewable energy targets

Austria has a highly reliable electricity supply network, thanks to a diversified mix of energy sources. Over three-quarters of Austria's electricity comes from renewable sources, with hydropower plants accounting for more than 60% of electricity production. The Austrian government has set ambitious targets to further increase the share of renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions.

In 2020, the Austrian government released its climate and energy strategy, "#mission2030", which aims to reach the following targets by 2030:

• 100% renewable electricity supply
• Carbon neutrality
• 1 million solar systems on private houses
• Phase out coal usage in industry

To achieve these targets, Austria needs to significantly enhance decarbonization efforts and increase the generation of electricity from renewable sources. The government is taking several measures to support this transition, including:

• Enacting a new climate protection law with binding greenhouse gas reduction pathways and targets.
• Investing in public transport infrastructure and supporting the electrification of transport.
• Encouraging the use of sustainable heating systems and building renovations to reduce emissions from the buildings sector.
• Developing renewable hydrogen and phasing out oil and gas heating systems.

By 2023, 87% of Austria's electricity generation was produced by renewable sources, indicating that the country is on the right track to meet its 2030 targets. The development of power generation from renewables, however, requires a parallel expansion of electricity grids and storage capacity.

The country's electricity imports and exports

Austria's electricity imports and exports are closely tied to its commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2040 and its goal of a 100% renewable electricity supply by 2030. The country has a diversified energy mix, with a strong focus on renewables, and is an integral part of the integrated European electricity system.

Austria's electricity imports:

In 2022, Austria's net electricity imports were approximately 8.7 terawatt-hours. While the country's domestic electricity generation has been able to supply most of its demand, these imports are still necessary to meet the country's energy needs. The sources of these imports are not explicitly mentioned, but it can be assumed that they come from other countries within the integrated European electricity system.

Austria's electricity exports:

Austria is a significant net exporter of electricity, helping its neighbouring countries reduce their carbon footprints. Its favourable geographical conditions and engineering expertise in harnessing river currents have allowed it to excel in hydroelectric power generation. With over 3,000 hydropower plants in operation, Austria has become a leader in renewable energy. This positions Austria as an exporter of clean electricity, contributing to the global fight against climate change.

To achieve its ambitious renewable energy targets, Austria is focusing on transitioning other sectors, such as transport, heating, and industry, to cleaner alternatives. This will require a substantial increase in electricity supply, and Austria can leverage its existing strengths in hydropower, wind energy, and solar power to meet this demand.

The role of wind energy

Austria has a highly reliable electricity supply network, thanks to a diversified mix of energy sources. Over three-quarters of Austria's electricity comes from renewable sources, with hydropower plants accounting for more than 60% of electricity production. The remaining portion of renewable electricity comes from wind, biomass, and solar.

In 1994, Austria had just 0.3 megawatts of installed wind capacity, but this grew to almost 2,409 megawatts by 2015. By the end of 2015, there were 1,119 wind turbines in operation, with a total output of 2,408.6 megawatts. These wind turbines help to avoid 3.4 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, and the sale of wind power in 2014 generated around €300 million in revenue for Austrian operators.

Austria's wind energy sector has faced some challenges, including a period of poor planning in the early 2000s and the impact of external costs, such as those related to landscape aesthetics, animal habitats, and increased mortality of bats and birds. However, the country has continued to invest in wind energy, with a new expansion phase beginning in 2016, adding approximately 70 wind turbines with over 240 megawatts of power.

To achieve its goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2030, Austria will need to add an additional 27 TWh in electricity generation, with 10 TWh coming from new wind energy capacity. This will require the construction of 500 MW of wind farms each year until 2030, and the identification of suitable areas for new wind farms is crucial to reaching this target.

The transition to clean electricity

Austria has a highly reliable electricity supply network, thanks to a diversified mix of energy sources. Over three-quarters of Austria's electricity is generated from renewable sources, mainly hydropower, which accounts for more than 60% of the country's electricity production. The remaining renewable sources include wind, biomass, and solar power, contributing to over three-quarters of the country's total electricity production.

Plans for a Cleaner Future:

Austria has set ambitious targets for its energy sector, aiming to achieve 100% renewable electricity supply by 2030. This goal requires a resilient and flexible electricity system, capable of accommodating a growing share of variable renewables. Here are some key strategies and initiatives that are part of Austria's transition to clean electricity:

• Phasing out fossil fuels: Austria closed its last coal-fired power plant in 2020 and plans to phase out all oil and coal heating systems by 2035.
• Renewable Sources:

• Hydropower: Austria has over 3,000 hydropower plants in operation, and this source provides the majority of the country's renewable energy.
• Wind Energy: Wind power has seen significant growth, with a capacity of 3,573 MW in 2023. Some states plan to double wind power by 2030 by expanding existing wind parks and creating new ones.
• Solar Energy: Austria added 1.4 GW of solar energy capacity in 2022 and aims for 1 million solar systems on private houses by 2030.

• Transport Electrification: Austria recognizes the importance of reducing energy consumption and dependence on fossil fuels in the transportation sector. The government supports the electrification of transport and invests in public transport infrastructure.
• Building Renovations: The government encourages switching from fossil fuels to sustainable heating systems and supports building renovations to improve energy efficiency.
• Tax Reforms: Austria is committed to a comprehensive tax reform to achieve true-cost pricing for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, especially in the transport sector.
• Greening the Gas Initiative: Austria is promoting the conversion of power to renewable gas facilities and the seasonal storage of renewable gases, including hydrogen.
• Research and Innovation: Austria aims to become an innovation leader in energy by focusing its research strategy on implementation-oriented projects and accelerating the commercialization of emerging technologies.

Challenges and Opportunities:

Austria's main challenge is decarbonizing the heating and transport sectors, which have seen increases in energy consumption and emissions. To meet its ambitious targets, Austria must significantly enhance decarbonization efforts and address the complexities and timelines of energy infrastructure expansion. However, with its impressive capacities for innovation and leveraging public-private funding, Austria is well-positioned to overcome these challenges.

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