From centralized hydro-thermal to decentralized renewable : the Austrian challenge

Austria's electricity production scheme is currently based on 67 per cent hydro power, 25 per cent fossil thermal power and 8 per cent new renewable energy, including wind, biomass, and photovoltaic conversion. As demand on centralized energy systems increases, the power generation, transmission and distribution system in the country will have to be restructured to increase the portion of regenerative generation. Decentralized micro-grid structures are a promising concept for meeting the target of efficiency improvement and renewable generation because they make it possible to use regenerative energy where it is collected. The most efficient way to meet the challenges of efficiency improvement and emission reduction is the replacement of old coal-fired power stations by new combined-cycle gas power stations with combined heat and power. This will reduce both carbon dioxide emissions as well as specific fossil energy demand. However, in just 1 decade the emission reduction achieved by fuel switching and higher efficiency of power stations will be equalized by higher demand, which is growing at an annual rate of 2 per cent. Future energy problems will be characterized by the security of supply; climatic change and the need for clean energy technologies; the lack of transmission-routes; and growing energy demand. The regenerative energy in Austria currently consists of hydraulic large run-of-river hydraulic generation as well as small scale hydro and large scale hydro storage systems. Biomass currently has a total generating capacity of 280 MW and forms 3.14 per cent of generation in Austria. Wind has reached a capacity of 950 MW and forms 3.8 per cent of generation in Austria. It was concluded that the future philosophy in energy supply will not be to try to increase regenerative generation according to growing demand, but to improve end-use efficiency and reduce demand according to the renewable regional potential. 4 refs., 4 figs