Building the energy system of the future: Austria's path to independence

Wind power is a critical component in building Austria's future energy system, offering a path toward clean, secure, and domestically sourced energy in the face of climate change. It enhances energy independence, strengthens regional value chains, and builds resilience against foreign suppliers, according to experts.

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Often is the money to dubious regimes flowed, which promote geopolitical tensions further and it has not served the good governance.

Discussions involving Josef Plank, president of IG Windkraft, Sigrid Stagl, head of the Institute for Ecological Economics at WU Wien, Sabine Herlitschka, CEO of Infineon Austria, and Michael Zinkanell-Süss, director of the AIES, highlighted Austria's vulnerability to global energy disruptions. Geopolitical tensions and supply chain issues directly impact the nation's economy and security, underscoring energy's role as a strategic power factor.

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Money that flows abroad for energy supplies is missing for domestic investments.

Sigrid Stagl pointed out that in 2023, Austria spent eight billion euros on imported fossil fuels, a significant sum that could be invested domestically. She noted that this money often flowed to "dubious regimes" that exacerbate geopolitical tensions, rather than supporting good governance. Josef Plank added that money spent on foreign energy imports is money lost for domestic investments, advocating for a complete exit from fossil fuels.

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Austria and Europe are in great dependence on the energy production sites and on transport routes.

Michael Zinkanell-Süss elaborated on Austria and Europe's deep-seated dependence on energy production sites and transport routes, citing the Strait of Hormuz as a stark reminder of the need to secure supply chains. Sabine Herlitschka shared Infineon Austria's proactive approach, having transitioned away from fossil fuels years ago and largely to renewables like district heating and green electricity since 2014, driven by the need for sovereignty and to mitigate extreme energy costs in Europe.

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We already got out of fossil fuels many years ago and have converted a large part to renewables since 2014. This includes district heating and green electricity.