Energy

Environmental-friendly energy resources, e.g. hydro power, biomass, solar energy, wind and geothermal energy are especially funded in Upper Austria. 

More than 30 per cent of the total primary energy consumption are produced from renewable energy sources.
 

Upper Austria and its energy savings federation ("Energiesparverband") are in the lead in Europe in ecological energy and was honoured by the European Commission with the highest European price for renewable energy sources in 2004.
 

More than 30 per cent of the primary energy consumption in Upper Austria are already today covered by environmental friendly forms of energy such as hydro power, biomass, solar power, wind or geothermal energy - six times more than the European Union´s average.
 

The basis for this success is the Upper Austrian energy concept "Energy 21". In the mid-90´s the Government introduced this regional energy action plan, determining energy savings and the intensified use of renewable energy sources as an energypolitical guideline. The goal was to expand the use of renewable energy sources from 25 per cent to 30 per cent, reached by appropriate implementation measures.
 

At the end of 2004, the Upper Austrian Government set the next important step with the energy efficiency strategy "ENERGIE STAR 2010": reduction of specific energy consumption by 1 per cent per year - in the public sector even 1.5 per cent - to reach a substantial contribution to environmental protection, a significant reduction of costs and a reduction of foreign dependence.