National Economy
The population of the Republic of Austria is approximately 9.14 million people[1]. In 2021, 100% of the people in this land-locked, Central European country had access to electricity[2].
In 2022, Austria’s economy was ranked 27th in the world in gross domestic product (GDP)[3]. The country’s economy[4] is dependent on the export of cars, packaged medicaments, vaccines, motor vehicle parts, flavored water, iron railway products, and cigarette paper.
Environmental Policies
In 2009, Austria as a member of the European Union (EU) committed to the “Renewable Energy Directive,” which requires each country to use renewable energy for 20% of its total energy needs by 2020 and 27% by 2030.
In 2016, Austria as a member of the EU signed the “Paris Climate Agreement”[5]. The EU committed to a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emission by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
Power Generation Capabilities
In 2021, electric utilities[6] used renewable energy (78.0 %), natural gas (16.4 %), oil (5.2 %), and coal (0.4 %) to fuel power plants in Austria. Hydropower and wind are the dominant types of renewable energy used to generate electricity in Austria.
Recent renewable energy projects in Austria include:
- 146 MW Wind Project – In December 2021. Austrian utility PÜSPÖK Group commissioned a wind project at a site approximately 80 miles south of the nation’s capital, Vienna.
- 120 MW Solar Project – In December 2022, Austrian utility, Burgenland Energie commissioned a solar project at a site approximately 15 miles southwest of Vienna.
- 26 MW Solar Project – In 2021, Austrian energy company, Wein Energie GmbH commissioned 60 rooftop solar projects in numerous towns and cities across the country.
- 24.5 MW Floating Solar Project – In February 2023, German company BayWa re commissioned a floating solar project at a site approximately 25 miles northwest of Vienna.
- 20 MW Solar Project – In March 2022, the operator of the Vienna International Airport, Flughafen Wien AG commissioned a solar project which will generate approximately 30% of facility’s annual electricity requirements.
Conclusions
In 2010, 66.2 % of Austria’s electricity was generated from renewable energy. Eleven years later, 78.0 % of Austria’s electricity was generated from renewable energy.
In eleven years, Austria has reduced electricity generated from fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) by 11.8 %. However; Austria in 2021 imported approximately 80% of its natural gas resources from Russia. Austria is accelerating renewable project development to ensure energy security.
Jack Kerfoot
Website – “Our Energy Conundrum”
Jack Kerfoot is a scientist, energy expert, and author of the book FUELING AMERICA, An Insider’s Journey and articles for The Hill, one of the largest independent political news sites in the United States. He has been interviewed on over 100 radio and television stations from New York City to Los Angeles on numerous energy related topics.
[1] Austria Population (2023) – February 22, 2023, www.worldometers.info
[2] The World Bank Group, Access to Electricity (% of Population – Austria)
[3] Gross Domestic Product By Country 2022 – Worldometer
[4] The Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) – Austria
[5] Carbon Brief – “2015: Tracking Country Climate Pledges”
[6] Our World In Data, Austria : Energy Country Profile by Hanna Ritchie and Max Roser