Energy in Austria describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in Austria. Austria is very reliant on hydro as an energy source, supported by imported oil and natural gas supplies. It is planned by 2030 to become 100% electricity supplied by renewable sources, primarily hydro, wind and solar.[ citation needed ]
The Austrian energy plan made in 2020 has the following targets: [1]
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CO2 emissions: |
In 2021 Austria passed a Renewable-Expansion-Act (”Erneuerbaren Ausbau Gesetz”, EAG) Nationalrat stipulating a goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2030, meaning that 27 TWh of renewable power need to be added by 2030. [3]
Imported oil accounted for 35.4% of energy consumed in 2022. [4] [ better source needed ]
Gas accounted for 16.8 percent of energy consumed in 2022. [4] [ better source needed ] Gas from Russia to Austria transits through Ukraine, whose contract with Russia expires in 2024, [5] and via Bulgaria, who in November 2023 imposed a €10.2 per MWh transit fee, around 20% of the value of the gas. [6] On November 16, 2024, Russia halted gas supplies to Austria on Saturday in a dispute over payments. [7]
The last coal plant closed in 2020. [8] The government considered reopening the plant in 2022.
OMV AG, a multinational integrated oil, gas and petrochemical company, is the largest energy business in Austria, with a turnover of €36 billion in 2021.
With over 3,000 hydro energy plans in operation, in 2021 Hydro power provided 14.1 GW and accounted for 54% of Austria’s total installed power generation capacity and 58% of total power generation. [9]
Hydro power in the summer of 2022 has generated less power, due to water shortages, due to climate changes. [10]
To meet the 2030 plan, an additional 1,500 MW of hydro energy capacity will be needed. [11]
Verbund AG is Austria's largest electricity provider. Verbund covers around 40 percent of electricity demands in Austria and generates 90 percent from hydro power. Annual turnover is around €10 billion.
| Achievement | Year | Achievement | Year | Achievement | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25% | 2006 | 30% | 2009 | 35% | 2014 [2] |
According to Austrian Environment Minister Nikolaus Berlakovich Austria has a target of 34% renewable energy by 2020 and 100% self-sufficiency in energy by 2050. In Austria will be 100,000 new green jobs up to 2020, Berlakovich hoped in the European Wind Energy Event 2013 by EWEA. [12]
Photovoltaic systems contributed almost 6 percent to domestic electricity production in 2022 with 3,792 MW capacity.. [4]
1.4 GW of solar energy capacity was added in 2022. [13]
An additional 10.5 GW of solar PV will be needed between 2022 and 2030 to meet the planned renewable target. [11]
In 2000 there was just 77 MW of wind capacity, by 2010 this had grown to 1,011 MW. In 2020 there was 3,105 MW and in 2023 it had reached 3,573 MW of wind power capacity in Austria.
Some states in Austria have forward looking plans to double the 2021 wind power by 2030 by expanding existing wind parks and creating new ones. [14]
Biomass provides over 18% of electricity capacity
31.3% of energy in 2021 was used by transport which is the economic sector with the largest consumption of energy in Austria. [15]
Renewable energy progress in the European Union (EU) is driven by the European Commission's 2023 revision of the Renewable Energy Directive, which raises the EU's binding renewable energy target for 2030 to at least 42.5%, up from the previous target of 32%. Effective since November 20, 2023, across all EU countries, this directive aligns with broader climate objectives, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Additionally, the Energy 2020 strategy exceeded its goals, with the EU achieving a 22.1% share of renewable energy in 2020, surpassing the 20% target.
Energy in Bulgaria is among the most important sectors of the national economy and encompasses energy and electricity production, consumption and transportation in Bulgaria. The national energy policy is implemented by the National Assembly and the Government of Bulgaria, conducted by the Ministry of Energy and regulated by the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission. The completely state-owned company Bulgarian Energy Holding owns subsidiaries operating in different energy sectors, including electricity: Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant, Maritsa Iztok 2 Thermal Power Plant, NEK EAD and Elektroenergien sistemen operator (ESO); natural gas: Bulgargaz and Bulgartransgaz; coal mining: Maritsa Iztok Mines. In Bulgaria, energy prices for households are state-controlled, while commercial electricity prices are determined by the market.
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Energy in Portugal describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in Portugal. Energy policy of Portugal will describe the politics of Portugal related to energy more in detail. Electricity sector in Portugal is the main article of electricity in Portugal.
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