Austria 2020

Energy Policy Review of Austria 2020

Executive Summary

• Key Recommendations: The report emphasizes the need for substantial decarbonization efforts across all sectors of the energy sector. Specific recommendations include phasing out oil and coal-fired heating systems by 2035, restricting natural gas use in new buildings from 2025, and enhancing energy efficiency.

General Energy Policy

• Country Overview: Austria's government aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, 10 years earlier than the EU's target.
• Supply and Demand: CO2 emissions have been increasing since 2014 due to increased final energy consumption in heat and transport sectors.
• Policies for Energy Sector Transformation: The government plans to phase out oil and coal-fired heating systems by 2035 and restrict natural gas use in new buildings from 2025.

Energy Security and System Resilience

• Electricity: The report provides an overview of electricity supply and demand, market model, regulatory framework, infrastructure, and security of supply.
• Natural Gas: The focus is on greening natural gas, infrastructure, industry structure, prices, and security of supply.
• Oil: The report covers the supply and demand outlook, oil industry structure, supply infrastructure, and emergency policies.

Recommendations

• Decarbonization Efforts: Enhance decarbonization efforts across all parts of the energy sector.
• Heat and Transport: Phase out oil and coal-fired heating systems by 2035 and restrict natural gas use in new buildings from 2025.
• Energy Efficiency: Improve energy efficiency to support the transformation of the energy system.

Conclusion

• The report highlights the importance of accelerating the energy transition and provides detailed recommendations to support Austria's goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2040.