Grid Segment

Netz OÖ GmbH is the electricity and gas grid operator in Upper Austria and parts of the states of Salzburg, Styria, and Lower Austria. The company also safeguards the operation of the electricity and gas grid. The yearly investments into grid expansion, retrofitting, and maintenance amount to more than EUR 100 million. These investments pursue the objective of warranting the reliable and well-performing energy supply for more than 575,000 electricity and gas customers. Netz OÖ GmbH understands that it is an important part of the public service in its supply area.

Netz OÖ GmbH is committed to the sustainable treatment of the resources available to us as well as to exercising its social responsibility. This includes being actively involved in shaping the living environment of customers and laying the foundations for the measures that are needed to master the energy transition and combat climate change. This is why Netz OÖ GmbH gained certification to ONR 192500:2011 “Social responsibility of organisations” (CSR) in the 2020/2021 fiscal year. The CSR goals are closely linked with the QSE management system of Netz OÖ GmbH. Regular internal and external audits review the compliance with the QSE and CSR standard.

Netz OÖ GmbH publishes its Sustainability reports on the company's website: Sustainability reporting Netz OÖ GmbH.

Restructuring the energy system towards a decentralised electricity generation from renewable sources while assuring the reliable and secure supply to customers requires very high investments into grid infrastructure in the years between now and 2026. Around half a billion Euro will be invested in the next five years. Thanks to local sourcing, more than half of this amount will generate additional value in Upper Austria. This will secure around 2,700 jobs.

Important sub-projects that fall under the “Electricity Grid Master Plan Upper Austria 2028” will be finalised shortly (electricity supply Almtal and Kremstal), or have made substantial progress (electricity supply Pramtal south). Numerous other projects are in the planning phase. All projects pursue the objective of warranting a reliable and secure electricity supply in Upper Austria.

In light of the expected massive expansion of e-mobility and decentralised systems for electricity generation from renewable sources, the low and medium voltage grids will also have to be expanded in the years ahead. Netz OÖ GmbH is planning to increase new grid capacities by at least as much as needed for the production output from renewable energy sources flowing into the electricity grid to increase by at least 10% each year.

Between now and 2026, around EUR 57.0 million will be invested into the gas grid, which is needed to support sector coupling and integration. Investments into this grid are necessary notwithstanding the planned exit from fossil energy sources due to the fact that these grids can also transport and distribute green, climate-neutral gases such as organically or artificially produced biomethane or hydrogen.

In addition to the measures focusing on security and quality of supply, the distribution grid operator will soon play an important role in the implementation of the renewable energy communities (measurement and provision of measurement values for the settlement of the consumption within the community and its members etc.).

Grid losses are an indicator for the efficiency of energy supply grids and thereby for the preservation of resources during energy transportation. The use of low-loss, high-efficiency transformers in grid renovation as well as energy-efficient control, regulation and transportation technology contribute to the further reduction of grid losses.

In the 2020/2021 fiscal year, the losses in the electricity grid amounted to 2.8% or 238 GWh (previous year 2.6%/203 GWh). The GWh increase in electricity grid losses in the 2020/2021 fiscal year was caused by a surplus of outflow energy when compared to the 2019/2020 fiscal year. Expressed as a percentage, the value falls within a natural fluctuation bandwidth. The gas grid losses caused by venting for repairs and maintenance works amounted to 31,367 m³ in the 2020/2021 fiscal year (previous year: 26,533 m³). The gas grid losses correspond to 3,575 t of CO₂ (previous year: 3,395 t of CO₂). Despite optimisation measures, the necessary projects made this extent of venting unavoidable.

Use of land

Electricity and gas are grid-bound energy sources. The supply with electricity and gas depends on the availability of the necessary grids and transportation systems to the consumers. As a grid operator, the company needs to secure the right to use the necessary land parcels for cables and overhead lines that are needed for the electricity grid and for pressured pipes for the gas grid. The company prioritises the use public land for grids that ensure the energy supply (in the public interest) whenever possible. In most cases however, public land that is suitable for the necessary scope of installations and operations is not available in the necessary size. This means that it is necessary to use land owned by third parties. This requires an amicable agreement with the land owners.

The company already affords maximum consideration to the settlement structure and neighbours during the planning phase. Netz OÖ GmbH is always trying to minimise any undesirable impact. This is why in most cases it is possible to reach mutual agreement with regard to the utilisation of land for the erection of the necessary energy systems. Whether or not this is possible mainly depends on the voltage (electricity) or pressure (gas) levels. The higher the voltage and pressure (which requires larger lines and wider routes), the less likely persons living in the vicinity are willing to tolerate an individually subjective disturbance. The compulsive registration of an easement that allows the use of land in the public interest of assuring the energy supply is only a measure of last resort in cases where a mutual agreement cannot be reached.

Objectives, measures and fields of action of social responsibility

Netz OÖ GmbH has compiled an ESG risk analysis for the business areas gas and electricity. This risk analysis examines issues from social affairs, environment, work, and customers that are of relevance to the company. These issues were assessed with respect to the ensuing opportunities and risks for Netz OÖ GmbH. Success factors have been developed for all important core CSR issues of Netz OÖ GmbH and allow for the achievement of strategic objectives and the sustainable improvement of the product and service quality. The new requirements were integrated into the quality management system of Netz OÖ GmbH and are observed in all core activities. Yearly internal and external audits verify the effectiveness of the quality management system.

Netz OÖ GmbH is firmly committed to the major sustainability issues of Energie AG as the parent company. Separate sustainability issues have been developed for a more specific representation of Netz OÖ GmbH. The quantitative and qualitative key performance indicators to be measured were set in the form of success factors based on these issues. The Netz OÖ GmbH business activities are focused on a positive development of the major sustainability issues and are monitored yearly on the basis of dedicated success factors. The following significant major sustainability issues were compiled: security and quality of supply, responsible treatment of third-party property rights, customer orientation and satisfaction, innovative services to support social developments, workplace health and safety, climate change mitigation and resource preservation, legal compliance and prevention of corruption, acting as a responsible employer, regional responsibility, and safeguarding the company value.

Netz OÖ GmbH has already implement numerous projects that align with the principle of sustainability and socially responsible action over the past years, e.g. in the area of storing solar electricity in the gas grid and protecting nature and living creatures (bird protection project: a substation is turned into a semi-natural habitat for animals). All reports on the above and ongoing projects can be found on the homepage of Netz OÖ GmbH (www.netzooe.at/nachhaltigkeit).