Austria's alternatives after the loss of Russian gas - Dual combination of hydro and wind power
Austrian power generators are well-positioned to weather the loss of pipeline gas supplies from Russia thanks to record wind power output along with the highest total hydro generation in more than a decade.
A contract dispute between Russian energy giant Gazprom and Austrian gas importer OMV resulted in Gazprom cutting off 50 years of gas flows to OMV earlier this month.
But utilities in Austria are in a strong position to cope with only minimal gas supplies over the next few months, thanks to the ongoing reconfiguration of the Austrian energy system away from fossil fuels.
If Austria manages to reduce the loss of its gas supplies just before winter, when gas use is usually higher, it could be a new blow to Russian exporters, who are already reeling from lower sales in the markets of Northern Europe.
A successful Austrian move away from gas could also serve as a model for neighboring countries, which could also cut their collective gas use and offset energy losses by increasing imports through their already interconnected grids.
Austria's network of more than 3,000 hydropower plants is one of the largest in Europe and forms the backbone of Austria's energy system, supplying more than two-thirds of the country's electricity.
Hydropower production during the first 10 months of 2024 is up 17% from the same months in 2023 and the highest in at least a decade, according to energy think tank Ember. Electricity production from hydroelectric dams was 4.15 terawatt hours (TWh) in October, according to Ember, up 65% from the same month in 2023.
And since winter is the peak period for electricity and Austrian electricity use due to higher heating demand, these stored hydro resources will allow Austrian energy companies to cut back on natural gas use for a period medium term. Higher wind power production is also boosting gas demand in Austria.
During the first 10 months of 2024, wind electricity generation in Austria was 7.7 TWh, which was 18% more than in the same period in 2023. This total was also 2.5 times greater than the electricity generation gas over the same period, cementing wind farms as the second largest source of Austrian electricity after hydro dams.
Neighboring countries the Czech Republic, Hungary, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia and Slovakia all have extensive networks interconnected with Austria, and so could also make cuts in their collective gas consumption and offset any energy losses by increasing imports. local.
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