Börse Express – Salzburg AG: Record budget for more climate neutrality
The supervisory board confirms the course taken and releases 324 million euros
Salzburg (OTS) – As a Green Tech Company, Salzburg AG is consistently pursuing its course of bringing Salzburg and the climate targets closer to home. Sustainability, digitization and technology are important building blocks for a healthier environment. The Supervisory Board has therefore given Salzburg AG a record budget of 324 million euros (323.7 million euros) for further green investments.
“As a Green Tech Company, it is very important to us to actively support Salzburg on the path to climate neutrality. The expansion of renewable energy forms the basis for a green tomorrow. Digitization and technology are therefore crucial, ”emphasizes Salzburg AG CEO Leonhard Schitter. “That is why we will concentrate on expanding the district heating network in Salzburg in the coming year. Furthermore, we want to create new digital products and platforms for our customers and customers in 2022, with which they can be an active part of the energy transition. “
“It is the right way to stick to the company’s forward-looking investments. For this reason, the Supervisory Board today approved the highest investment budget in Salzburg AG’s corporate history, ”explains the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Governor Wilfried Haslauer, and adds:“ With around 324 million euros, Salzburg AG will continue on the path of innovation and further development in the coming year Go. These investments not only benefit all of us, they also help to stimulate the economic engine and increase competitiveness. That is a contribution to increasing the added value and further new jobs. “
Clean warmth for Salzburg
Salzburg AG has set itself the goal of making the heat supply in the entire state climate-neutral. In 2022, the company is therefore pushing the expansion of district heating in the city of Salzburg. With the so marked ‘Süd-West-Spange’, 600 customers from Maxglan to Himmelreich can be supplied with climate-friendly heat in the future. The construction work will take place in four stages. In order to supply the city with even more clean heat, Salzburg AG is investing a total of 24.6 million euros. The costs for the first construction phase amount to 11.5 million euros.
Expansion of renewable energy generation
Salzburg AG has been committed to the state’s climate and energy goals and the European Union’s Green Deal from the very beginning. The Green Tech Company is therefore investing around 40 million euros in renewable energies in the coming year. To complete the construction work started in Rotgülden in 2021, 2.5 million euros will flow into this project. “We are making targeted investments in existing power plant locations and using the latest technology to make them even more efficient, more flexible and therefore greener,” says Schitter. If Salzburg AG achieves the necessary official permits in 2022, around 8 million euros will be invested in the construction of a new power plant in Pongau in the coming year. With a generation of around 19 million kWh, it is expected to supply more than 5,500 households with green electricity in the future. A further 4 million euros are earmarked for a possible start of construction of a further power plant stage on the central Salzach in late autumn / winter 2022.
Customer in focus: Sustainable with ‘Internet of Energy’
As a Green Tech Company, Salzburg AG continues to focus on the customer. Efficient, innovative and digital products should make a significant contribution to the energy transition and at the same time make everyday life easier for all customers. That is why the company will focus on digital product developments in the coming year. The aim is to create a holistic platform that provides products and services such as energy communities, e-commerce and digital payment. Salzburg AG has budgeted around 1.9 million euros for the ‘Digital Solutions’ area.
Broadband expansion as the basis for digitization
In 2021, Salzburg AG created the conditions for real fiber optic broadband internet in more than 60 municipalities. In order to continue to live up to its pioneering role in matters of faster Internet supply, 40 million euros will flow into the telecommunications sector in the coming year. Not only will the greater Unken area be supplied with super-fast Internet from Salzburg AG, but fiber-optic expansion will be accelerated throughout the state and more than 2,500 households will receive an FTTH connection from Salzburg AG in 2022.
one2zero for CO2 reduction
With one2zero GmbH, Salzburg AG has a 100 percent subsidiary that, as a full-service provider, accompanies business customers on their way to CO2 neutrality – with advice, implementation and a technology portfolio. The strategy behind this is to offer Salzburg AG’s green know-how throughout Austria. “One2zero’s goal is to accompany companies on their way to an emission-free energy system. As a partner for large companies and SMEs in particular, it offers comprehensive services on the subject of CO2 reduction, ”explains Schitter. “The main focus of our subsidiary is to stand up for green issues across Austria. We will take further steps here in 2022, ”concludes Salzburg AG CEO Schitter. The annual plan and the first business models as well as partners of the green company were presented to the Supervisory Board today.