Damon Mcknight
Austria has been a global leader in renewable energy, with 77% of its electricity generation coming from renewable sources in 2018, the third-largest share among IEA countries. The country has set ambitious goals for its energy sector, aiming for 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and decarbonization by 2050. To achieve these targets, Austria has adopted the Renewables Expansion Law in 2021, allocating $1.18 billion for investment grants and subsidies for solar, wind, and biomass projects. The country's energy strategy rests on three pillars: security of supply, energy efficiency, and renewables, with a focus on hydropower, wind, solar, and biomass. Austria's pumped storage and gas infrastructure will also play a crucial role in accommodating the growing share of renewable energy in its electricity system.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Austria's renewable energy sources | Hydro, wind, solar, biomass, geothermal |
| % of electricity generation from renewables in 2023 | 87% |
| % of electricity generation from renewables in 2018 | 77% |
| % of final energy consumption from renewables in 2016 | 33.5% |
| Target % of electricity generation from renewables by 2030 | 100% |
| Target additional renewable energy generation by 2030 | 27 TWh |
| Target % reduction in carbon emissions | 100% |
| Investment in renewable energy by 2030 | $1.18 billion |
| Jobs in renewable energy sector in 2016 | 41,591 |
| Revenue from renewable energy sector in 2016 | €7,219 million |
| Employees in hydropower industry in 2016 | 6,784 |
| Revenue from hydropower industry in 2016 | €2 billion |
| % of final energy consumption from hydropower in 2016 | 36.4% |
| Revenue from biofuel sector | €2,764 million |
| Geothermal power potential | 2,000 MW thermal power, 7 MW electric power |
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What You'll Learn
Austria's energy policy
Austria has a target of achieving 100% renewable electricity by 2030, with an intermediate goal of 100% clean electricity by 2040. To meet these goals, the country needs to increase its annual renewable electricity generation by 22-35 terawatt-hours by 2030. This will require significant investments to enhance the resilience and flexibility of electricity networks, optimize demand-side management, and update the legal and regulatory framework.
Hydropower is the primary source of electricity in Austria, contributing up to 67% of the country's total electricity generation in 2023. The country's landscape, with its mountainous terrain, abundant rivers, and ample precipitation, makes it ideal for hydropower development. Wind energy is the second-largest renewable electricity source, followed by solar and biomass.
To encourage the transition to renewables, the Austrian government has implemented several incentives. These include a "market premium" subsidy for wind, solar, or biomass producers, investment grants for small renewable energy systems, and support for the creation of "energy communities" that can independently sell their electricity. Additionally, Austria is committed to greening its gas supplies and deploying renewable hydrogen, aiming to inject 5 TWh of renewable gas into the grid by 2030.
The country's energy policy is conducted at both the federal and provincial levels. The federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation, and Technology has sole competence for energy policy, while provincial governments retain authority over infrastructure, land use, and zoning decisions.
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Decarbonization of the energy system
Austria has committed to ambitious goals to achieve carbon neutrality and significantly reduce its carbon emissions. The country aims to achieve a 100% renewable electricity supply by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2040, a decade earlier than the European Union's target. To meet these goals, Austria has been working on the decarbonization of its energy system, focusing on various sectors.
One key sector is the district heating (DH) sector, which currently has a renewable share of about 48.4%, mostly from biomass. To decarbonize DH networks, Austria has been exploring innovative projects, including heat pumps, waste heat, and geothermal energy. For example, in Burgenland, wind energy is utilized through heat pumps connected to a transformer station from a wind park, making the system economically feasible. Additionally, the country is promoting the use of renewable gas facilities and seasonal storage of renewable gases, including hydrogen, through its "Greening the Gas" initiative.
Austria has also been investing in building renovation and encouraging the switch from fossil fuels to sustainable heating systems. With buildings and transport accounting for around half of total emissions, the government supports electrification, infrastructure development, and the use of public transport to reduce emissions in these sectors. Furthermore, Austria's pumped storage and hydropower resources will play a crucial role in accommodating the growing share of variable renewable generation in the electricity system.
To achieve its decarbonization goals, Austria's energy policy is conducted at both the federal and provincial levels. The federal government has established a ministry dedicated to climate action, environment, energy, and related fields, while provincial governments handle infrastructure, land use, and zoning. Additionally, Austria focuses on implementation-oriented research and development projects, aiming to accelerate the commercialization of emerging technologies and promote private sector funding for innovation.
Overall, Austria's efforts to decarbonize its energy system involve a comprehensive approach that targets various sectors, encourages innovation, and aims to balance economic and environmental goals, demonstrating its commitment to a sustainable energy future.
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Renewable energy sources
Austria has been a global leader in renewable energy, with renewables covering 29% of its total primary energy supply in 2018, the sixth-highest among IEA countries. The country has a diverse range of renewable energy sources, including hydropower, biomass, wind power, solar energy, and geothermal power.
Hydropower has been a traditional energy source in Austria, dating back to the beginning of the 20th century when it was used for sawmills, mills, and forging hammers. Today, hydropower remains a crucial component of Austria's renewable energy mix, accounting for up to 67% of electricity generation in the country in 2023. Austria's leading electricity company operates around 130 hydropower plants, including storage power plants in the Austrian Alps and run-of-river power plants on major rivers.
Wind power is the second-largest renewable electricity resource in Austria, contributing around 15% of the total installed capacity as of November 2021. The wind power sector employed about 11% of the workforce in the renewable energy sector and generated nearly €1 billion in revenue in 2016.
Solar energy is also prominent in Austria, with a share of 10.5% of the total installed power plant capacity. Photovoltaic systems contributed almost 6% to domestic electricity production in 2022, and the country aims to add an additional 10.5 GW of solar PV by 2030.
Bioenergy, including solid biomass, fluid, and gaseous biofuels, plays a significant role in Austria's renewable energy landscape. In 2016, the biofuel sector generated €2.76 billion in revenue, accounting for 38% of the total revenue generated by the renewable energy sector. Solid biomass alone employs about 50% of the workforce in the renewable energy sector.
Geothermal power has a smaller presence in Austria, with a potential capacity of about 2,000 MW thermal power and 7 MW electric power. Geothermal energy is primarily used for thermal baths.
Austria has set ambitious goals for its renewable energy future, aiming for 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and complete decarbonization by 2050. To achieve these targets, the country plans to increase the generation of electricity from renewable sources by up to 35 terawatt-hours by 2030, focusing on the expansion of wind and solar power, while also improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.
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Energy efficiency
Austria's energy policy is underpinned by three key pillars: security of supply, energy efficiency, and renewables. The country has made significant progress in its efforts to decarbonize the economy, with renewable energy use continuing to grow and the use of fossil fuels decreasing.
To achieve its ambitious targets, Austria has recognized the importance of energy efficiency. The country has committed to reaching climate neutrality by 2040, with a goal of 100% renewable electricity supply by 2030. This target requires a resilient and flexible electricity system, capable of accommodating the growing share of variable renewables and the electrification of the energy sector.
To achieve these goals, Austria has implemented several measures. Firstly, the country supports building renovation and encourages switching from fossil fuels to sustainable heating systems. This includes the use of renewable gas, with the government aiming to inject 5 TWh of renewable gas into the grid by 2030. Secondly, Austria is investing in public transport infrastructure and the electrification of transport, reducing emissions from the transport sector. Thirdly, the country is strengthening building standard guidelines and requiring provincial compliance to harmonize building energy efficiency implementation. This includes providing stronger price incentives to decrease carbon intensity in energy consumption and channeling revenues back to citizens and companies.
Additionally, Austria's pumped storage will play an increasingly crucial role in the future electricity market. By accommodating the growing share of variable renewable generation, pumped storage will facilitate the integration of renewable energy into the Austrian and European electricity systems. This integration is vital for achieving the country's decarbonization goals and ensuring a secure and flexible electricity supply.
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Energy security
Austria's energy policy is based on three pillars: security of supply, energy efficiency, and renewables. The country has made significant progress in its efforts to decarbonize its economy by increasing its use of renewable energy and decreasing its reliance on fossil fuels.
Austria has already achieved its EU Renewables Directive goal for 2020, with renewable energies accounting for 33.5% of final energy consumption in all sectors (heat, electricity, and mobility) by the end of 2016. The country is also a global leader in renewable energy, with renewables covering 29% of its total primary energy supply in 2018, the sixth-highest among IEA countries. This high level of renewable energy use contributes to Austria's energy security by reducing its dependence on imported fossil fuels.
To further enhance energy security, Austria has set ambitious goals for itself. The government aims to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and proceed with the decarbonization of the energy system by 2050. To meet these targets, the country is investing in renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, hydro, and biomass. Austria has allocated $1.18 billion for investment grants and subsidies for projects in these sectors, with the potential for this to reach up to $35.4 billion over the next decade. Additionally, Austria is focusing on the development of pumped storage hydropower plants, which can convert excess renewable electricity into potential energy for later use, further enhancing energy security.
Austria's transition to a decarbonized energy system also involves greening gas supplies and deploying renewable hydrogen. The government aims to inject 5 TWh of renewable gas into the grid by 2030, which requires maintaining and expanding gas infrastructure. This includes power-to-gas facilities and the seasonal storage of renewable gases, ensuring electricity security in a decarbonized energy system.
To summarize, Austria's commitment to renewable energy sources enhances its energy security by reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. The country's ambitious goals and investments in various renewable energy sectors, along with the development of pumped storage options, contribute to a more secure and sustainable energy future.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria is using renewable energy to reduce its carbon intensity and to achieve climate neutrality by 2040.
In 2023, renewable energy accounted for 87% of Austria's total electricity generation, with hydropower being the largest source.
Austria's investment in renewable energy has created jobs and revenue for the country. It has also reduced the country's reliance on fossil fuels and imported oil and natural gas.
One challenge is the need for large-scale expansion of electricity grids and storage capacity. Another is the requirement to invest in making networks more resilient and flexible.
The "Renewables Expansion Law", adopted in March 2021, is legislation that allocates $1.18 billion for investment grants and subsidies for solar, wind, and biomass projects, with the goal of reaching 100% renewable electricity by 2030.
