From November 2025 through October 2026, low-carbon sources supplied about 71% of Austria’s electricity consumption. Hydropower was the largest source at roughly 39%, followed by solar at 15%, wind at almost 12%, and biofuels at about 5%. Fossil fuels supplied around 16%, including gas at 12% and coal at about 2%. Net imports accounted for the remaining 14%; their generation mix is not specified, so they cannot be classified here as either clean or fossil electricity. Austria therefore has a strong low-carbon foundation, but fossil electricity still contributes to climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Austria?

Austria’s latest figures do not indicate electricity growth relative to its historical peaks. Electricity consumption in 2026 stood at about 8,300 kWh per person, around 650 kWh, or 7%, below the 2012 record of roughly 8,900 kWh. Low-carbon electricity generation was about 5,900 kWh per person, approximately 1,800 kWh, or 23%, below its 2024 record. These comparisons do not establish whether consumption grew compared with the immediately preceding year, but the shortfall in clean generation is concerning. Expanding clean electricity supply would help Austria meet future demand from electrification and AI.

Suggestions

Austria can build on its existing strengths by expanding solar and wind generation, supported by stronger grids and storage. Nearby Germany, where wind supplies about 29% of electricity, offers a relevant example for wind expansion, while Denmark’s roughly 58% demonstrates its considerable potential. For solar, Austria can learn from North Macedonia, where it supplies about 40% of electricity, and the US state of California, where it contributes around 30%, while adapting their experience to Austrian conditions. Austria should also consider developing nuclear electricity alongside solar and wind. Neighbouring Slovakia generates roughly two-thirds of its electricity from nuclear, while Hungary and Slovenia obtain about 29% and 43%, respectively, illustrating nuclear’s substantial contribution to a clean electricity supply.

History

Austria’s low-carbon electricity history has been dominated by large year-to-year changes in hydropower. In the 1970s, several increases of roughly 3–5 TWh were interrupted by a 3.5 TWh decline in 1976; further sizable gains followed in 1987 and the 1990s. During the 2000s, hydropower fell nearly 7 TWh in 2003 before recovering partly in 2004, with another 3 TWh increase in 2009. The 2010s also saw sharp swings: declines in 2011 and 2015 contrasted with a remarkable 10 TWh increase in 2012 and a 3 TWh gain in 2019. More recently, a 2022 decline was followed by encouraging hydropower gains of 6 TWh in 2023 and nearly 5 TWh in 2024, alongside a 3.2 TWh solar increase in 2023. However, hydropower then dropped 12 TWh in 2025 and nearly 7 TWh in 2026, underscoring the importance of expanding a more diversified low-carbon electricity supply.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Nov 2025 – Oct 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.