Network Development Plan 2025

Initial Situation

Austria ranks among the global leaders in power grid availability, with over 99.99% reliability. A secure and affordable electricity supply is the foundation of modern society—now more than ever. Events like the large-scale blackout on the Iberian Peninsula in April 2025, which affected large parts of Spain and Portugal, clearly demonstrate how essential the continuous availability of electricity is for the functioning of the economy and modern society.

To maintain this high level of supply security, not only must sufficient generation capacity be available, but also efficient transmission and distribution networks. Only then can energy be reliably and efficiently transported to where it is needed, ensuring grid and system stability. The availability of primary energy sources also plays a key role. The price increases and gas import shortages triggered by the war in Ukraine have highlighted the dependency on fossil fuels and their impact on electricity prices. Accelerating the expansion of renewable energy (RE) and switching to electricity-based processes—especially in energy-intensive industries and businesses—is a key lever to reduce this dependency. This transformation requires not only new generation facilities but also targeted expansion of grid infrastructure to connect new feed-in points and load centers.

In recent years, global crises have directly impacted the implementation of grid expansion projects. The war in Ukraine caused significant price distortions in energy and commodity markets and led to supply shortages of key components. Despite APG’s countermeasures, some projects were affected by delays and costs increases.

In the gas sector, declining methane demand, the rise of a hydrogen economy, and the use of Austria’s biomethane and biogas potential are key trends. Electrolysis, green hydrogen, and coupling of gas and electricity networks (e.g. power-to-gas, storage) are gaining importance. In addition to pumped storage, battery storage systems are expected to play an increasingly important role in the future by providing short-term energy, absorbing peak loads, and supporting the integration of variable renewable energy sources. This requires grid-supportive operation and strategically chosen locations with high system relevance.

A powerful electricity grid is the backbone of Austria’s economy and a key factor for industry, business, and digitalization. Investments in the grid create long-term value, secure jobs, and enable the establishment of future technologies (e.g. electrolysers, data centers, storage). Grid expansion is not just a technical necessity but a societal task that determines Austria’s resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability. Grid investments also reduce economic follow-up costs by lowering congestion management costs (e.g. redispatch), avoiding RE curtailments, and reducing energy import dependency.

Energy and National Context

By the end of 2023, Austria had around 6.4 GW of photovoltaic (PV) and 3.9 GW of wind power installed. PV capacity has doubled in recent years. The “National Trends (NT)” scenario of the TYNDP 2024, reflecting EU member states’ energy and climate plans, projects 30 GW of PV and 16 GW of wind by 2040. For comparison: Austria’s total installed generation capacity is currently around 28 GW. The Renewable Expansion Acceleration Act (EABG) aims to create the legal and regulatory framework for this expansion.

These capacities must be integrated into both transmission and distribution networks. The high RE expansion leads to increased demands on grid operation, especially in terms of transport capacity, system stability, and flexibility. New challenges arise in balancing regional surpluses and storing green electricity—both nationally and across Europe.

The Austrian Network Infrastructure Plan (ÖNIP 2024) identified additional electricity demand corridors beyond the NEP 2023, now integrated into NEP 2025. These robust, medium-term necessary measures form the “Target Grid 2040” and ensure coherence between ÖNIP 2024 and NEP 2025.

European Framework

In December 2024, the new EU Commission announced major initiatives focusing on Europe’s competitiveness, with energy as a key lever. The “Clean Industrial Deal (CID)” aims for a climate-friendly and competitive industry, especially in energy-intensive sectors and green technologies. A central element is access to affordable energy, with grid expansion and system integration identified as key challenges. The “Affordable Energy Action Plan” aims to ensure green and affordable energy for all Europeans through faster permitting and more system flexibility.

The “European Grid Package,” expected by the end of 2025, will legally anchor measures from the “Action Plan for Grids” (November 2023), including coordinated European grid planning, regulatory incentives, faster permitting, and access to financing. In June 2025, the EU electricity market reform came into force, responding to the 2022 energy price crisis. It aims to strengthen electricity markets and emphasizes system flexibility.

APG Grid Expansion Planning and European Coordination (TYNDP)

As transmission system operator and control area manager, APG is legally obligated to operate, expand, and maintain the grid safely, reliably, and efficiently (§ 40 ElWOG 2010). The TYNDP by ENTSO-E coordinates European grid expansion based on harmonized energy scenarios. These scenarios and resulting projects are robust and far-reaching, so short- to medium-term changes have little impact on APG’s long-term planning.

The NEP 2025 is a legal obligation (§ 37 ElWOG 2010), based on TYNDP 2024, and continues NEP 2023. It informs market participants about planned grid expansion over a ten-year horizon and provides a long-term outlook to 2040. 

Top Grid Expansion Projects in NEP 2025

The commissioning of the 380-kV Salzburg line in Q2/2025 marked a major milestone for grid expansion and supply security. It strengthens supply in Salzburg and Upper Austria and is key to completing the 380-kV ring.

NEP 2025 outlines the next major projects, derived from TYNDP and ÖNIP 2024. These include closing the southern 380-kV ring, powerful east-west corridors, connections to pumped storage in western Austria, and RE integration. Short-term measures include modernizing existing lines (e.g. conductor replacements).

Projects are developed in coordination with regional DSOs, generators, industry, and customers to address regional needs and create synergies. Cost-efficiency is a key goal: targeted investments and coordination with DSO plans aim to reduce economic costs and optimize system-wide solutions. Achieving climate neutrality also requires storage, flexibility, sector coupling, and innovative technologies.

Scope of APG Transmission Grid Expansion

• General refurbishment of approx. 730 km of lines
• Upgrade of approx. 70 km to a higher voltage level
• Approx. 920 km of new transmission lines
• 23 new substations (“greenfield”) by 2035
• Expansion and refurbishment of existing substations
• Approx. 80 transformers with a total capacity of ~30,000 MVA

Consequences of Delayed Implementation

If NEP projects are not implemented on time:

• Negative impacts on cross-regional electricity transport
• Increased use of costly congestion management and reserves
• Curtailment of RE and power plants due to grid bottlenecks
• Threats to grid and supply security
• Negative effects on Austria’s economic competitiveness

Requirements and Conclusion

To ensure a secure and affordable energy transition, implementation conditions must be accelerated and simplified. Key laws (ElWOG, EABG) must be passed in 2025 to enable faster permitting.

Only rapid implementation of NEP projects will allow green energy to be integrated and used. Otherwise, Austria will become more import-dependent, and costly measures like congestion management will continue. Without sufficient grid capacity, RE feed-in will increasingly be curtailed, leading to lost RE generation, CO₂ savings, and higher economic costs.

In addition to digital integration, rapid grid expansion remains the most effective measure to ensure a secure energy transition. Capacity increases and flexibility options are essential. Grid reinforcement and digital integration are indispensable. The success of the energy transition depends on powerful transmission and distribution networks.

APG aims to ensure that grid expansion is technically robust and economically efficient. Applying the NOVA principle (“optimization before expansion”), investing in existing infrastructure, and using innovative technologies ensures that every euro invested maximizes benefits for security, efficiency, and climate protection.

Consultation

The NEP 2025 is a legal obligation (§ 37 ElWOG 2010), based on TYNDP 2024 and a continuation of NEP 2023. APG informs all relevant market participants about the planned grid expansion over a ten-year horizon. Public consultation runs from July 9 to August 6, 2025. Comments can be sent to Konsultation-NEP@apg.at and will be reviewed and considered in the final NEP 2025.