Russian gas imports

Towards independence with a new energy package

According to Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler, the new package will "accelerate the energy transition once again".

(Bild: metamorworks - stock.adobe.com)

More than two years have passed since Russia launched its war of aggression against Ukraine. Since then, European countries have been trying to become less dependent on Russian energy imports. So far, Austria has only achieved this to a limited extent. At the end of the previous year, between 76 and 90 percent of the gas used came from Russia. Further measures in the form of an energy package were agreed in the Council of Ministers on Wednesday. The independence target is now to be achieved with a new pipeline and faster expansion of the electricity grid.

After all, independence can only be achieved through new infrastructure, emphasized Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) after the Council of Ministers, who spoke of a "milestone". In this context, a new project was presented: a second new gas pipeline between Austria and Germany. This will be used to transport liquid gas and natural gas from Norway. However, the approximately 40-kilometer-long pipeline will also be used to transport hydrogen as an alternative. The aim is to "significantly increase capacity", said Nehammer in the press foyer. An exact date for construction has not yet been set. But now that the money is available, it should start as soon as possible, explained Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens).

(Bild: Krone KREATIV)

Rights of electricity customers to be strengthened
In addition to the pipeline, the expansion of photovoltaic potential is also a priority. "Anyone who wants to feed the self-generated electricity from their PV system into the grid should be able to do so," says the government. The Electricity Industry Act is intended to create "clear rules" for this and strengthen customers' rights. However, as more solar energy feed-in also means a higher load on the domestic grids, these must be expanded and strengthened.

Chancellor Karl Nehammer presented the new energy package together with Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler, Finance Minister Magnus Brunner and Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler.

(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

Green Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler recently defined the goal of the policy in an interview with Krone: "What we have already achieved is to reduce the volume of supplies from Russia by 50 percent. The aim is to be completely independent by 2027/2028. And Chancellor Karl Nehammer is on board with that."

Kogler: "Energy transition accelerated once again"
On Wednesday, Kogler explained that the new package would "accelerate the necessary energy transition once again". "Austria should seize every opportunity to stay ahead here." Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) emphasized at the joint press foyer that a crisis-proof electricity supply also strengthens Austria as a business location. Energy Minister Gewessler came up with a new "record": "In 2024, we will have generated 84% of our electricity consumption from renewable sources. We are therefore starting 2024 with a record for renewables." Diversification must now be "consistently continued".

According to Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler, the new package will "accelerate the energy transition once again".

(Bild: metamorworks - stock.adobe.com)

In addition, the government wants to ensure that the lower wholesale prices are passed on to end customers as quickly as possible. The federal government is therefore examining "stricter instruments of competition control" in the energy sector, as "fair and transparent competition" is "a fundamental concern of the federal government across all markets", according to the government documents.