National and regional story (Austria) - Austria on its way to more renewable energy

Austria ranks high in renewable energy consumption, mainly due to its high share in hydropower and biomass. It was among the four EU countries with the highest share of energy from renewable sources in gross final energy consumption in 2005 and amongst the Member States committing to the most ambitious national targets for 2020 (in Austria: 34%) under the EU Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources. Since 2005 the share of renewable energy in Austria had grown continuously, reaching nearly 29% in 2008. The main driver for the growing contribution of renewable energy is the enhanced use of biomass due to strong incentives such as targets set by regulations, a longterm focus on research and development policies as well as subsidies.

Biomass for Space Heating

Wood biomass for heating purposes has always played an important role in the Austrian energy supply. In the beginning of the 1980s, strict air pollution legislation was introduced, forcing companies to improve the performance of wood boilers with regard to energy efficiency and emissions. Strong competition started which resulted in significant improvements and highperformance biomass combustion technologies. Hence, biomass boilers made in Austria nowadays represent one of the best available biomass combustion technologies worldwide. As regards consumers, grants for wood boilers stimulated demand. In 2009, more than 70 000 pellet boilers were installed with a power capacity of 1,356 MW.

Over 1,000 biomass district heating stations have been constructed in rural areas since the 1980s, often with subsidies providing the decisive incentive.

Biomass for Electricity Generation

Green electricity legislation was introduced in 2002 pursuant to the EU Directive 2001/77/EC on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources, regulating eligibility of support and feedin tariffs. In 2009 , electricity produced from biomass under the green electricity scheme accounted to more than 2,500 GWh corresponding to around 5% of total electricity production. 

Biofuels for Transport

In 2004, Austria's government adopted an ordinance on biofuels exceeding the targets of EU Directive 2003/30/EC (2% share in 2005, 5.75% in 2010) resulting in a 7% share of biofuels in 2009.

Outlook

The objective of the (recently elaborated) energy strategy is the development of an energy system providing energy services to private consumers and businesses in the future while complying with EU climate and energy requirements (34% renewables, 16% reduction of GHG in the nonETS sector). Achieving stabilisation of final energy consumption (considered to be indispensable) is a major challenge for Austria.

According to recent national research papers, main challenges in the energy sector are achieving a higher rate of thermal refurbishment of existing buildings, a new approach to transport and mobility services and a higher rate of cogeneration and renewables in the production sector as well as future decisionmaking on energy supply and transformation technologies and increased public research funds for clean energies.

EUDirective Renewables with national target for Austria: EUROPISCHE UNION (2009): Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the council of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and amending and subsequently repealing Directives 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC.
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Austrian Forecast Document: BMLFUW, BMWFJ (2010): Basis paper for working groups on the preparation of an Austrian energy strategy.
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Housing subsidy scheme: Website

Potential: BMLFUW (2009b): Erneuerbare Energie 2020. Potentiale und Verwendung in sterreich.
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Lobbying for Biomass:

proPellets: Website

Biomasseverband: Website

Type approval for biomass boilers: Website

Subsidy scheme for biomass district heating http://www.publiconsulting.at/de/portal/umweltfrderungen/bundesfrderungen/betrieblicheumweltfrderungiminland/erneuerbareenergietrger/

kostromgesetz (BGBL II Nr. 149/2002 i.d.g.F): Bundesgesetz, mit dem Neuregelungen auf dem Gebiet der Elektrizittserzeugung aus erneuerbaren Energietrgern und auf dem Gebiet der KraftWrmeKopplung erlassen werden (kostromgesetz) sowie das Elektrizittswirtschafts und organisationsgesetz (ElWOG) und das Energiefrderungsgesetz 1979 (EnFG) gendert werden.
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kostromverordnung 2010 (BGBL II Nr. 42/2010): Verordnung des Bundesministers fr Wirtschaft, Familie und Jugend, mit der Preise fr die Abnahme elektrischer Energie aus kostromanlagen auf Grund von Vertrgen festgesetzt werden, zu deren Abschluss die kostromabwicklungsstelle bis Ende des Jahres 2010 verpflichtet ist.
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EnergieControl (2009): kostrombericht 2009. Bericht der Energiecontrol gem 25 Abs 1 kostromgesetz, Wien.
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Directive 2001/77/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 September 2001 on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market.   
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Directive 2003/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 May 2003 on the promotion of the use of biofuels or other renewable fuels for transport.
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Kraftstoffverordnung (BGBl. II Nr. 418/1999 i.d.g.F.): Verordnung des Bundesministers fr Land und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und Wasserwirtschaft, mit der die Kraftstoffverordnung 1999 gendert wird.
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Umweltbundesamt (2008):Winter Ralf: Biokraftstoffe im Verkehrssektor in sterreich 2008. Zusammenfassung der Daten der Republik sterreich gem Art. 4, Abs. 1 der Richtlinie 2003/30/EG fr das Berichtsjahr 2007. Wien, 2008, Reports, Band 0169.
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Biofuels in the Transport Sector 2010: Biokraftstoffe im Verkehrssektor 2010 Zusammenfassung der Daten der Republik sterreich gem Art. 4, Abs. 1 der Richtlinie 2003/30/EG fr das Berichtsjahr 2009, Umweltbundesamt & BMLFUW 2010.
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Growth Bottlenecks Engpsse fr Wachstum und Beschftigung in sterreich im Rahmen der Strategie Europa 2020, WIFO Mai 2010.   

Links:

Austrian Energy Strategy

Statistik Austria (Statistical data)