Federal states must now enable the expansion of renewables
St. Polten (OTS) – When it comes to the share of renewable energies in consumption, Austria is falling further and further behind in an EU comparison. While the share of renewables in total energy consumption has increased by an average of 36.1 percent in the EU over the last 10 years, Austria was only able to increase its share by 11.3 percent. In terms of the share of renewables in electricity consumption, Austria was only able to achieve an increase of 3.2 percent in the last 30 years. “It is time to follow the energy policy of the middle of the last century, when Austria built most of its existing power plant capacity in just a few years. The year 2023 must become the year of renewables and lead to changed framework conditions, especially in the federal states.”
According to Eurostat, the share of renewable energy in total energy consumption in Austria has increased by 11.3 percent in the last 10 years (2012 to 2021). However, the average development in the EU is three times higher at 36.1 percent. In Germany (41.5 percent), Spain (45.6 percent) and France (46.1 percent) renewables have developed four times as fast since 2012 and in Greece (59.6 percent) almost six times as fast. Only in three countries (Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary) has the increase in renewables been smaller. “The figures from Eurostat show very clearly that we have still not removed the obstacles to the expansion of renewable energies in Austria,” notes Moidl: “We are still waiting for the federal states to take action so that the expansion of wind energy in gear can come.”
Austria left behind in the electricity sector
According to the International Energy Agency IEA, the share of renewables in electricity consumption has increased by just 3.2 percent over the past 30 years. While Austria has been standing still since 1990, other countries in Europe are showing what would have been possible at that time. Since 1990, Sweden has increased its share of renewables by 26 percent, Germany by 38.5 percent and Denmark by 65.5 percent. With a total of 75 percent, Austria has a relatively high proportion of renewables. While the other EU countries were able to increase their share significantly, it has been stagnating in Austria for 30 years. Austria was also overtaken by Sweden in terms of the share of renewables, which is already 81 percent there. In Denmark, the share was just under 3 percent in 1990. With 68 percent, however, Denmark has almost caught up with Austria. “It’s regarding time that Austria docked back to the energy policy of the middle of the last century and aggressively dealt with the expansion of renewable energies,” demands Moidl: “The federal states in particular are required to use the areas for wind power and PV Identify facilities and hire staff in the approval authorities. Last but not least, all federal states now finally need a clear commitment to the rapid expansion of renewables, because this is the life insurance for Austria as a business location and the guarantor for an affordable energy supply for the population.
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Martin Jaksch-flying snow
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