Energie AG’s environmental goals are:

  • To support and comply with goals and projects that reflect the Austrian climate and energy strategy, while taking economic sustainability into account
  • To further expand renewable generation facilities
  • To increase energy efficiency, with more efficient and sparing use of fuel
  • To expand new green alternatives for space heating
  • A forward-thinking maintenance strategy
  • Ensuring that waste is disposed of and recycled in an environmentally friendly and legally compliant manner
  • Providing advice to customers and improving awareness of sensible and efficient energy use

Energie AG expresses its commitment to responsible and sustainable use of the environment in all areas of activity, taking future generations into consideration. The key sustainability issues in the environmental realm are climate protection, resource conservation and energy efficiency. These issues are organised into the Energy, Grid, Waste Management, Water, and Holding & Services Segments in this section.

Most Energie AG Group projects are intended to improve energy efficiency (both in-house and for the customer) while sustainably supporting energy and climate goals, as well as the guidelines of the Austrian Federal Energy Efficiency Act 2014.

Compliance with environmental laws is a key foundational principle for success in the market. Regular internal and external reviews help to ensure the necessary compliance. At present, there are no deviations from legal provisions related to the environment.

For all the review results, see the latest environmental statements from Energie AG Oberösterreich Umwelt Service GmbH (Umwelt Service GmbH) and Energie AG Oberösterreich Kraftwerke GmbH (Kraftwerke GmbH).

The Energie AG Group’s business activity requires a reasonable amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Thermal plants are indispensable for electricity production as a means of ensuring a secure supply and stable grids. Energie AG works to counter greenhouse gas emissions by making substantial positive impacts on the environment through efficient low-CO2 energy and heat generation, and by harnessing the benefits of primary fuel and primary raw material substitution. In addition, our refrigerator recycling service makes a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

1,331 kt of CO2 emissions (Scope 1) were released in the 2017/2018 fiscal year, of which 1,019 kt were from fossil fuel sources and 312 kt were from biogenic energy sources. The Energie AG Group can account for 74 kt of indirect CO2 emissions (Scope 2).

The Energie AG Group’s emissions predominantly come from the operation of thermal power plants, district heating plants, waste incineration plants and co-generation plants, as well as from pumping energy, distribution losses, process heat, building heating and vehicles.

CO2 Emissions for 2017/2018 Fiscal Year (in Metric Tonnes)

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Business Unit

  

Scope 1
(fossil)
tonnes

  

Scope 1
(biogenic)
tonnes

  

Scope 2
tonnes

  

Total
tonnes

Power plants

  

423,853

  

145,941

  

4,536

  

574,330

Environmental service

  

499,195

  

136,919

  

15,106

  

651,220

Heating (Austria)

  

26,816

  

10,696

  

1,046

  

38,558

Heating (Czech Republic)

  

30,214

  

5,634

  

860

  

36,709

Power solutions

  

25,579

  

3,316

  

4,486

  

33,380

Water

  

5,577

  

9,628

  

11,455

  

26,659

Electricity grid

  

 

  

 

  

36,565

  

36,565

Gas grid

  

3,113

  

 

  

 

  

3,113

Business services

  

4,646

  

 

  

 

  

4,646

Total 1)

  

1,018,992

  

312,134

  

74,053

  

1,405,180

1)

Data from the 2017/2018 fiscal year; based on the low level of fluctuation in recent years, data for Energie AG Oberösterreich Umwelt Service GmbH (Umwelt Service GmbH): 2017 calendar year; data for Water Segment from 2016/2017 fiscal year; <1% of overall balance not included due to small scale: trading, telecommunications, service units (except for vehicle fleet) and Ennskraftwerke AG. Figures based on direct measurement, from environmental statements or conversion using direct emission factors, Environment Agency Austria CO2 equivalent and Energie AG electricity mix (residual mix). Methane taken into account in direct emissions.

Scope 1 encompasses direct emissions from the incineration processes of stationary facilities, direct emissions from the incineration processes of mobile facilities, direct emissions of volatile gases and direct emissions from processes.

Direct greenhouse gas emissions are released when primary energy sources are converted in our facilities, vehicles and building heating (without electricity). This includes all fuels such as natural gas, heating oil, coal, diesel, petrol, liquefied petroleum gas and biogenic fuels. Energie AG creates electricity and district heating from these sources and operates its own vehicles.

Scope 2 encompasses indirect emissions from electricity purchases, indirect emissions from district heating/cooling and indirect emissions from steam purchases.

Indirect greenhouse gas emissions are released by the use of electricity from the grid and heating from non-Energie AG systems. This includes the operation of systems that generate no electricity in-house (such as power supply to Energie AG buildings, grid purchases during system shutdowns/overhauls, pumped-storage electricity, systems in the water network and systems in the gas grid (without own gas needed).

The energy audit, in line with section 9 of the Austrian Federal Energy Efficiency Act 2015 (Bundes-Energieeffizienzgesetz; EEffG), covers all Austrian locations of all Energie AG Group companies (>50% shareholding interest). As per EEffG Annex III, the energy audit examined a key energy consumption area in the relevant sites’ ”processes“, which were analysed in detail and subsequently audited. Processes account for 92% of the Energie AG Group’s total energy consumption, while transport and buildings each account for only around 4%.