Energy Strategy of Austria

In order to achieve the 16% target for greenhouse gas emissions and the 34% target for renewable energy sources, a process was initiated in 2009 for the development of the Austrian Energy Strategy. The aim is to stabilise final energy consumption within a future-oriented, efficient and renewable system, at the level of 2005 (1 100 PJ). The programme also aims at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the share of renewable energy sources up to 34%. In March 2010, the Austrian federal Minister of Economy and Minister of Environment presented the Austrian Energy Strategy. Such strategy focuses on building refurbishment acceleration, from a current rate of 1.2% to 3% till 2020, and the launch of an energy efficiency programme fin the industrial and commercial sectors. Envisaged measures mostly target the individual sector and space heating appliances, as well as transport and electricity production. A pre-evaluation of these measures has shown that it will only be possible to achieve the stipulated targets by implementing efficiency measures, effective especially with respect to demand, immediately and on a large scale. A 45% reduction below the 2005 level of greenhouse gas emissions has been calculated for the sectors: space heating and small consumers, a 19% reduction for the transport sector. The most important measures in the space heating sector are to continually increase the building refurbishment rate and to replace fossil-based heating systems with renewable heating systems. Similarly, in the transport sector a reduction of the use of fossil fuels is essential in order to reach the target.

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