The end of cheap Russian gas, high climate goals, the massive increase in electricity demand and much more necessary infrastructure: there are major energy policy upheavals that are putting Austria under pressure. The participants at the “Climate Talk” on Thursday evening in the Linz Promenade Galleries agreed on this.
In a discussion with environmental economist Sigrid Stagl from WU Vienna, Martina Prechtl-Grundnig, Managing Director of Renewable Energy Austria, Ulrike Rabmer-Koller, Head of the Rabmer Group, and Günter Pauritsch from the Austrian Energy Agency.
On the one hand, the energy crisis is leading to the reactivation of coal-fired power plants and longer operation of nuclear power plants, Stagl said: “On the other hand, a change in behavior is necessary and possible. If we do it wisely, our well-being will not suffer.” In terms of emissions, one is not yet on the way towards the political goal of climate neutrality by 2040. It is not surprising that fuel consumption has hardly fallen despite high prices, said Stagl: “The structures in public transport, jobs and places of residence have not changed. And prices don’t work that short-term. It needs a good combination of price signals and regulation.” Pauritsch said that because of its dependence on Russia, Austria had to diversify gas imports at a fast pace, which would help with climate targets. The increase in energy efficiency and the expansion of renewables must be massively accelerated.
Technologies: open or clear?
It is currently a little easier to make people aware of the seriousness of the situation because everyone is concerned with energy costs, said Kaineder. In order for the transformation to succeed within 18 years, you need everyone in society and political responsibility: “We have incredibly little time.” Kaineder accused Schwarz-Blau of a “rhetoric of carelessness”. Although 85 percent of the electricity mix in Upper Austria is renewable, the total energy consumption is only 30 percent. The wind power master plan must be changed from exclusion zones back to priority zones; one is not prepared for the plan to install 200,000 photovoltaic systems by 2030. A plan is needed in the next few months on how to upgrade transformers. Many investors do not implement projects for pumped storage or wind farms because they do not know whether this is politically desirable and whether it will pay off.
Pauritsch: “It also needs federal state solidarity.” As an industrial country, Austria will not be able to produce 100 percent electricity from renewable sources. But a politician from another country said to him: Why should we build more wind power as long as Upper Austria is not using its own potential?
Prechtl-Grundnig sees too little movement in new laws at federal level. It needs “much, much more renewable energy sources”. Rabmer-Koller called for faster approval procedures and sees great opportunities in energy from wastewater. Hot water consumes the second most energy in buildings. “To achieve the climate goals, we need the three I’s: innovation, investment, information.” Rabmer-Koller pleads for “technology openness” so as not to inhibit innovation. Prechtl-Grundnig, on the other hand, is in favor of “technology clarity. We already have a lot of technology, we have to get going.”
- Live stream to check on nachrichten.at/klimatalk
Source: Nachrichten
