Background

Ensuring a sustainable future requires innovative solutions which meet energy demands in an environmentally friendly way and at the same time maintain or improve living standards. Facing this challenge, the Upper Austrian Government unanimously passed the "Energy 21" strategy, continuing the strategy of the successful first energy plan (1994-99) in the 21st century.

Aims and Objectives

The "Energy 21" strategy focuses on the development of a well-targeted action plan based on the following four guidelines: Improving energy efficiency; increasing the use of renewable energy sources (RES); utilising hydro power (up to ecologically defined limits); reducing the use of fossil fuels. For a successful implementation of the energy action plan, the following goals were defined, covering various fields: 

Renewable Energy Sources
Additional 10 PJ from RES will be produced until 2010, the share of modern biomass heating systems will be doubled. Additionally, 3 % of electricity are to be generated from RES (except hydro) until 2005 and 1 million m² of thermal solar collectors are to be installed until 2010. 

Energy Efficiency
Overall as well as industry-specific energy efficiency will be increased by 10 % by 2010. 

Heating and Hot Water
The energy consumption for heating and hot water supply will be reduced by 20%. 

New Businesses, New Markets
30 new companies in the fields of RES technology and energy efficiency are to be established until 2010, thus creating a total of1500 new jobs. 

Energy Research
15 new energy RTD research and demonstration projects are planned annually. 

Targeted Action Plan

These objectives will be met by implementing a detailed action plan comprising 25 concrete measures in the fields of housing/buildings, public buildings/municipalities, energy supply and companies/institutions. The action plan is based on the experience gained from the implementation of the first phase of Upper Austrian energy strategy, European directives and nation-wide climate protection activities; it focuses on measures which are best implemented on a regional level.