Austria boasts Europe’s second-greenest power sector in 2023

Austria generated 87% of its power from renewable sources in 2023 following record years of solar panel expansion, putting it behind Luxembourg in the EU rankings.

Much of Austria’s electricity has traditionally come from hydropower, thanks to dozens of large plants along the country’s rivers. In recent years, however, additional power from ‘new’ renewables such as wind and solar has helped to expand conventional structures.

In 2023, 87% of Austrian power was generated from renewables, Austria’s Environment Ministry said on Friday, up from 78% in 2022.

Only Luxembourg performed better at 89%, while Lithuania ranked third at 81%.

The government attributed the big change to a significant boost from solar power, which more than doubled to provide 4.4% of the country’s electricity. Wind turbines also now generate more than 15% of electricity.

By 2030, Austria hopes to generate 100% of its electricity from renewable sources. The country has also become a model for the sector in Brussels, setting up an informal “Friends of Renewables” group for EU countries with nearly a dozen member states.

Paris, which launched a similar group dedicated to nuclear power, has long been at odds with Vienna over the role of nuclear power in the bloc’s efforts to meet its climate targets.

Cover photo: Much of Austria’s electricity has traditionally come from hydropower, thanks to dozens of large plants along the country’s rivers. In recent years, however, additional power from ‘new’ renewables such as wind and solar has helped to expand conventional structures. [Shutterstock/Dancing_Man]