Due to its central geographical location and the country’s seasonal dependence on electricity imports Austria’s security of supply relies on transnational factors during the winter months. On average, every fifth kWh consumed in Austria in the winter months of the past three years was produced abroad and transported to Austria via the transmission grid of APG. This illustrates both the importance of sufficient power plant capacities available throughout Europe and the need for strong transmission grids.
In a preliminary analysis for the winter 2023/24, a team of APG experts has examined the available national and international data that are particularly relevant regarding the security of electricity supply. In this context it was particularly important to assess whether sufficient production from conventional power plants is available during times with little renewable production but high consumption so that countries with electricity deficits can be supplied through the transmission grids.
The good news is that the analyses show a stable overall picture regarding the security of supply in Austria. The most important parameters in this context are:
- The grid reserve power plants are secured for the winter 2023/24
- Pumped storage power plants are fully available as key pillar for the security of supply
- Filled gas storage facilities in Austria (99.87%, as of November 12, 2023)
- Progress in the expansion of renewable energies, in particular PV installations
- Increased availability of nuclear power plants in France
- Full availability of Austria’s grid capacities
- Resource-efficient weather conditions to date: mild temperatures at the beginning of the heating period in October and November 2023 and good water levels for run-of-river power plants
“With a normal development of the weather conditions during the winter months we can expect a stable overall picture for the security of electricity supply in Austria. This is positive and shows that the measures taken in the energy industry (grid expansion, expansion of renewables’ production, securing grid reserve power plants, filling of gas storage facilities) have the desired effect. However, the encouraging status quo must not deter us from continuing to implement further necessary measures in the energy sector to ensure the supply-secure energy transition. These include, in particular, a further expansion of grids, storage facilities and renewables’ production capacities, as well as the acceleration of approval procedures and the development of an overall plan for the energy transition. At the same time, we must not give up the ambition to structurally cut down on the electricity and energy demand. Energy savings and grid expansion are the most important levers with regard to the availability of low-cost electricity”, says Gerhard Christiner, CTO at APG.
Keeping a close eye on the security of supply
Together with other European TSOs APG establishes and analyzes a daily forecast of the expected supply and consumption of electricity in the individual European countries for the next seven days based on the close monitoring of the system as part of the Short Term Adequacy Assessment.
On November 16, the ENTSO-E Winter Outlook Report was published on the organization’s website. This report also indicates an inconspicuous result for Austria. In general it provides a more relaxed assessment of the situation in Central Europe compared to the previous winter. The ENTSO-E Winter Outlook Report is available at: https://www.entsoe.eu/outlooks/seasonal/
About Austrian Power Grid (APG)
As independent transmission system operator Austrian Power Grid (APG) is in charge of ensuring the security of electricity supply in Austria. With our high-performance and digital electricity infrastructure and the use of state-of-the-art technologies we integrate renewable energies, we are the platform for the electricity market, and we provide access to reasonably priced electricity for Austria’s consumers and thus create the basis for Austria as supply-secure and future-oriented industrial and business location and place to live. The APG grid totals a length of about 3,400 km and is operated, maintained and continuously adapted to the increasing challenges of the electrification of businesses, industry and society by a team of approximately 733 specialists. Thanks to our committed employees Austria had a security of supply of 99.99 percent also in 2022 and thus ranks among the top countries worldwide. Our investments of 490 million euros in 2023 (2022: 370 million euros) are a motor for the Austrian economy and a crucial factor in reaching Austria’s climate and energy targets. Until 2034 APG will invest a total of approximately 9 billion euros in grid expansion and renovation projects.
Press contact
Christoph Schuh
