Vienna (OTS) – The Day of Dependence on Coal, Oil and Natural Gas is already on May 3rd this year. In order to manage the energy transition, further efforts in research and development are urgently needed. Wien Energie, EVN, Burgenland Energie and Energie Steiermark are taking on this challenge as part of the joint research initiative Green Energy Lab.
This year, too, the day of dependence on coal, oil and natural gas is clearly in the first half of the year. This means that in Austria we currently do not even cover half of our total annual energy requirements from renewable sources; specifically, it is only 34 percent. Electricity is already largely generated using renewable energy thanks to hydropower, wind and photovoltaics. However, fossil fuels such as natural gas and petroleum products still make up the lion’s share of heat supply and transport. So there is still a lot to do to achieve the goal of climate neutrality by 2040.
Energy suppliers as key players in the energy transition
The energy companies Wien Energie, EVN, Burgenland Energie and Energie Steiermark ensure the safe and reliable supply of affordable energy to industry, commerce and private households. At the same time, they are making large investments in research and development to make sustainable energy sources usable and to integrate them into the existing electricity and heating networks. Many such innovation projects are carried out as part of the Green Energy Lab research initiative, which was jointly founded by these four energy supply companies. With the core regions of Vienna, Lower Austria, Burgenland and Styria, the Green Energy Lab has a test market with five million customers, making it Austria’s largest innovation laboratory for a sustainable energy future. The Green Energy Lab is also part of the Austrian innovation offensive “Energy Showcase Region” of the Climate and Energy Fund.
Research and development for new energy solutions
By 2025, over 150 million euros will be invested in innovative projects as part of the Green Energy Lab. Together with over 350 partners from business, research institutions and the public sector, innovative solutions for a sustainable energy system are being researched. “We are currently on the path to a renewable energy future. Developing and trying out new ideas is a central component and is at the heart of the Green Energy Lab. I am pleased about the opportunity to continue the successful path of this research initiative as chair and spokesperson
“, says Andrea Edelmann, innovation and sustainability manager at EVN.
Investments in renewable energy
EVN is committed to the consistent expansion of renewable energy generation, particularly the expansion of wind power and photovoltaic capacities. “The expansion of renewables is one of the most important building blocks for achieving the goals of the EVN climate initiative
“, says EVN board spokesman Stefan Szyszkowitz.
EVN has been part of the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) since 2021 and has committed to reducing its own CO2 emissions by around 60% by 2034. EVN is investing a record amount of 700 million euros in this financial year. This amount is expected to increase to 700 to 900 million euros in the next few years. Three quarters of the investments go to Lower Austria and flow into the expansion of the networks, renewable energy generation and the expansion of the drinking water infrastructure.
Vienna has also set itself ambitious climate goals and wants to become CO₂ neutral by 2040. Wien Energie supports this goal as part of a comprehensive strategy to decarbonize the energy supply. “To ensure that the energy transition is successful, we are pulling out all the stops. We are expanding renewable energies, relying on climate-neutral heat generation and producing green hydrogen. Together with the Green Energy Lab, we can test numerous innovative approaches that will take us further on our path to climate neutrality in 2040
“, says Michael Strebl, Chairman of the Wien Energie Management Board.
Climate protection, greening and sustainability are also central points of Energie Steiermark’s corporate strategy. That is why it is vigorously pursuing the goal of using all regional potential for green energy: water, wind, photovoltaics, biomass – but also “green” hydrogen. In the coming years, Energie Steiermark will invest more than 2.5 billion euros in new generation projects for renewable energy, around 1.5 billion of which will go into the necessary expansion of the networks alone. Board spokesman Christian Purrer: “The need of the hour is to use all existing green potential and resources and to develop future strategies for the energy and climate transition. With the highest investment budget in the company’s history, we are taking an important step towards a decarbonized energy future in the power grids
.“
Burgenland Energy CEO Stephan Sharma uses Fossil Dependence Day to point out the urgency of broad innovation in the fight against climate change: “Our task is big and it takes all of our courage and energy to push forward the energy transition. We need to further intensify research and development and are therefore an active sponsor of the Green Energy Lab
.” A 100 percent renewable energy system with wind, sun and optimal utilization of the networks based on material and resource sustainability is possible. Burgenland Energie will produce over 3,000 gigawatt hours from wind power and photovoltaics in 2025, tripling the amount of electricity from ecological production. “With investments in technological innovations such as organic storage, alternative mobility and green hydrogen, we as a European green tech company are making a significant contribution to the future of our children
.“
Questions & Contact:
Ing. Mag. Ludwig Fliesser
T: +43 676 47 19 347
E: ludwig.fliesser@greenenergylab.at
W: www.greenenergylab.at
www.linkedin.com/company/greenenergylab