Over the past 12 months from December 2024 to November 2025, Austria's electricity consumption landscape reveals a strong reliance on low-carbon energy, with more than three-quarters of its electricity deriving from clean sources. Hydropower forms the backbone of this low-carbon electricity, contributing slightly more than half of the total supply. Solar and wind energy add substantial contributions, each providing slightly over an eighth and more than a tenth, respectively. Fossil fuels, particularly gas, still play a role, amounting to just over a tenth of Austria’s electricity mix, while coal represents a minor part of this category. Austria also relies on net imports for a small fraction of its energy requirements. Overall, the data reflects a robust, green energy infrastructure, led primarily by hydropower, yet still leaving room for growth in solar and wind sectors.
Data sources used on this page include IEA and World Bank. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Austria?
Despite this impressive reliance on clean energy, Austria is currently witnessing a concerning decrease in electricity consumption. In 2025, the total per person consumption dropped to 7562 kWh compared to 2024’s previous high of 8947 kWh. This decline of 1384 kWh per person is similarly mirrored in the sector of low-carbon electricity, with a notable dip from 7839 kWh to 6022 kWh per person. Hence, there's a pressing concern surrounding the decrease in electricity consumption as the country is falling short of its previous heights in clean energy generation. Encouragingly, leaders in Austria can view this as an opportunity to revitalize efforts and strategies that encourage the sustainable growth of electricity consumption.
Suggestions
Austria can bolster its low-carbon electricity generation by capitalizing on its existing solar and wind infrastructure. Expanding these sectors could mitigate the current reduction in clean electricity usage. Countries like France and Slovakia provide pivotal examples, with robust low-carbon energy supplies primarily from nuclear power, which accounts for the majority of their electricity generation. Similarly, Denmark's significant wind energy deployment stands as a successful model for Austria to increase its wind capacity. Learning from these regions, Austria can further diversify and strengthen its commitment to clean energy, particularly by exploring the potential of nuclear energy alongside continued investments in solar and wind advancements.
History
Historically, Austria has experienced fluctuations in its hydropower generation. In the 1970s and 1980s, years like 1974 and 1979 saw notable increases, while 1976 endured declines. The late 1980s into the 1990s presented periods of growth and setbacks, with significant rises occurring in 1987 and reductions in 1990. More recently, hydropower experienced substantial growth in 2012, followed by a marked decline in 2025. These historical patterns underscore the importance of stability and advancement in Austria's electricity strategy. The focus should now be on overcoming these dips by fostering a more resilient and diversified low-carbon energy supply through technological advancements and strategic development planning in clean energy sectors.
