Wind power immediate program: Independence for Salzburg
Program for a response from the state of Salzburg to the energy crisis
Salzburg – on May 12, 2022: Salzburg is one of the pioneers of the energy transition. For the desired climate neutrality, however, 9 TWh of fossil and nuclear energy use must be dispensed with. Wind power could contribute 1.5 TWh of wind power with 100 wind turbines by 2030 and provide two-thirds of the amount of energy operated that is currently covered by natural gas. “For this, however, the wind zones must be doubled and the approval processes optimized,” demands Stefan Moidl, Managing Director of IG Windkraft.
With 52 percent of the total energy consumption coming from renewable sources (2019: 19 TWh), Salzburg is one of the leading federal states in Austria. When it comes to electricity consumption, Salzburg has already exceeded the 100 percent mark with three other federal states with a 128 percent share of renewables. However, even for Salzburg there is still a long way to go before full supply with renewable energies and climate neutrality. Around half of energy consumption (9 TWh) is still provided in the form of fossils such as oil, natural gas and coal. Especially in the winter months, Salzburg is still dependent on high electricity imports from fossil fuels and nuclear energy from abroad. “Here, the clean and domestic wind power offers an optimal addition to the existing energy mix,” remarked Moidl.
Due to the high electricity prices, the gas crisis and the war in Ukraine, the needs have changed radically. “Whether Salzburg is planning the right first step with the designation of zone welfare for wind power, the additional crisis situation requires a significant adjustment of the framework conditions,” demands Moid2: “By 030 there could be 100 wind turbines in Salzburg. As a result, two-thirds of the amount of energy required for gas in Salzburg can be provided by clean domestic wind power.” Then in Salzburg, about as many wind turbines would supply clean power as in Styria today. In this state, too, all the wind turbines are in the mountains.
Double zoning
“In order to be able to use the wind power in Salzburg optimally, the zones designated in the current draft are far from sufficient,” remarked Moidl. With today’s wind power technology and the existing wind resources, even 200 wind turbines are possible in Salzburg in the future. If the framework conditions are right, 100 of the 200 wind turbines could be installed by 2030. This requires a doubling of the zones and rapid approval of the projects. the state government in Salzburg should follow the example of those federal states in which the expansion of wind power is currently working very well. “Here, Burgenland and Styria should be highlighted in particular, as they have already created good framework conditions,” Moidl remarked and added: “If the approval procedures are designed in a similar way to those in these federal states, the expansion of wind power in Salzburg will take a big leap towards energy independence do . The sufficient availability of renewable energy will be the important factor for economic development and the quality of life of the population in the future, therefore & the good potential in the province of Salzburg will also be used quickly.”
To the entire press kit with further background information
Questions & contact:
IG Wind Power Austria
Martin Jaksch-flying snow
Mobile: 0660/20 50 755
m.flying snow@igwindkraft.at
https://www.igwindkraft.at