We are celebrating a special anniversary this year, the energy saving fair is 40 years old. We look forward to five successful exhibition days, “said trade fair director Robert Schneider yesterday at the opening press conference. Despite difficult signs in some industries, it was possible to bring more than 380 exhibitors to Wels to the center of the energy transition-from building services, energy supply to building and renovation. According to the specialist audience, the exhibition halls 19 to 21 will be open to visitors, the day ticket costs 14 euros.
Ernst Hutterer, deputy chairman of the Association of Austrian Kessel and Heating Industry (VÖK), took a look back at the heating market 2024 (see graphic). In the previous year, the largest growth recorded wood heating (primarily pellets), which were able to double sales to 28,850 pieces. Heating heat pumps remain in vogue – with an increase of six percent to 45,900 pieces. In total there were around 100,000 heating systems sold in Austria in 2024. The proportion of renewable energies is now more than 70 percent – this is also due to the funding until the funding pot was exhausted. “We are expecting lower grants this year, but also less restrictive conditions,” said Hutterer.
More than 90,000 funding applications
Norbert Hartl agreed to the appeal to the new government to quickly decide on new funding. Overall, the government program should be evaluated positively that the mood in the industry is “carefully optimistic”. One reason for this is also the approximately 90,000 registered funding applications, which would have to be processed this year, said Manfred Denk, Federal Guild Master of the Installers. Light at the end of the tunnel “after disastrous years” also sees Walter Eder, Managing Director Ziegel Eder: “Last year, social residential construction saved us, now the private houses are going uphill again.” There were compact buildings in the trend, “it is being built.”
Richard Freimüller, President of the Association of Heat Pump Austria, also took a positive balance, he would like to “predictability over several years” from the new government. At the moment, most potential customers would still wait, the new framework conditions should therefore be decided quickly. Because in order to achieve the goals of the Paris climate agreement, 60,000 newly installed heat pumps are necessary per year, said Freimüller – but in the previous year it was “only” 45,872. Politicians are further challenged here and funding is conceivable at a lower amount.
Source: Nachrichten
