Salzburg & Upper Austria Lead Austria's Green Energy Transition
Salzburg and Upper Austria are leading the way in Austria's green energy transition. By 2028, the number of emission-free buses in Salzburg is set to reach 80. Meanwhile, Verbund has commissioned Limberg III, Austria's most modern pump storage power plant, in Kaprun. oekostrom AG is also expanding its solar power capacity with a new plant in Höhnhart.
Albus Salzburg is at the forefront of this change. The company is investing €3.5 million in new charging infrastructure for electric buses. Around 1,700 photovoltaic modules at their depot will generate enough electricity to power these buses annually. The province of Salzburg has supported this project with around €1.2 million in funding.
The Höhnhart solar power plant, set to supply around 3,000 households with electricity, is expected to save around 1,700 tonnes of CO2 per year. By 2030, the share of solar power in Upper Austria is set to increase tenfold, with around 25,000 new PV systems installed in 2024 alone. Next2Sun, based in Upper Austria, is expanding the use of agro-photovoltaic systems, combining agriculture and electricity generation on the same land. This is expected to increase electricity yields by up to 10% per installed kWp.
The Limberg III power plant, with a turbine capacity of 480 megawatts, is intended to contribute to grid stability.
These initiatives demonstrate Salzburg and Upper Austria's commitment to renewable energy. By 2028, the region aims to have 80 emission-free buses on the road, powered by clean electricity generated from solar and pumped storage power plants. This transition not only reduces carbon emissions but also supports local businesses and agriculture.
