Electricity in Austria in 2023

Austria has made remarkable strides in embracing low-carbon electricity sources. More than 85% of the country's electricity is generated from clean energy solutions. The most significant contributor is hydropower, providing almost two-thirds of the country's electricity. Further contributions come from wind at nearly 13%, solar and biofuels each at around 3.5%. On the other hand, fossil energy, mainly gas, accounts for a slightly more than 10% of Austria's electricity supply, whereas imported electricity makes up for slightly less than 4%.

Suggestions

The prospects for amplifying clean electricity production lie predominantly in the realm of wind energy, which already contributes a significant chunk of the country's power. With its proven track record and increasing efficiency, additional investments into wind energy infrastructure could further reduce Austria's dependency on fossil-fueled electricity. Through leveraging mechanisms such as policy incentives, infrastructure development, and R&D into technologies reducing intermittency issues, this expansion could offer a viable path towards augmenting the share of low-carbon electricity in Austria's energy mix.

History

Analyzing the history of low-carbon electricity generation in Austria reveals a remarkably consistent reliance on hydropower, with occasional oscillations. It experienced a steady rise in the mid-1970s with some fluctuations, and by 1987, had increased quite substantially. However, the subsequent years brought mixed fortune, with the generation suffering dramatic declines in 2003, 2011, and most recently in 2021 and 2022. Despite these challenges, there have been commendable rebounds, with 2012 seeing an outstanding surge of 10 TWh compared to the previous year. Further improvements were witnessed in 2016 and 2019 and a noteworthy recovery in 2023, indicating the resilience of hydropower in Austria's low-carbon electricity generation journey.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Maximum Imports

Data Sources