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 will assure a reliable and efficient 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 report on the company’s website: Netz OÖ GmbH Sustainability Report.

The integration of the mainly decentralised PV generation systems with approx. 589 MW installed capacity into the electricity grid entails a high capital expenditure for adapting the grids to the additional requirements in terms of capacities and grid-balancing capability. Taking Upper Austria’s goals for the expansion of renewable energies as a basis, far more than EUR 100 million in capital will be needed over the next 10 years. Thanks to local sourcing, more than half of this amount will generate additional value in Upper Austria.

Important sub-projects that fall under the auspices of the “Electricity Grid Master Plan Upper Austria 2028”, e.g. the projects “electricity supply Almtal and Kremstal” and “electricity supply Pramtal south” and the new Hörsching substation have already been completed. Other projects are currently in the implementation or 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.

Between now and 2027, around EUR 55.0 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 plays 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 systems contribute to the further reduction of grid losses.

In the 2021/2022 fiscal year, the losses in the electricity grid amounted to 2.7% or 222 GWh (previous year 2.8%/238 GWh). The gas grid losses caused by venting (cold flaring) for repairs and maintenance works amounted to 10,798 m³ in the 2021/2022 fiscal year (previous year: 31,367 m³). The gas grid losses correspond to 217.69 t of CO₂ (previous year: 632.36 t of CO₂). Due to the number and nature of the projects in comparison to the previous year, the venting quantity has declined greatly.

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 of public land for grids that ensure the energy supply (in the public interest) whenever possible. In most cases, however, such land for the erection and construction is not sufficiently available. This means that it is necessary to use land owned by third parties.

In order to keep concerns to a minimum, the company already affords maximum consideration to the settlement structure and neighbours during the planning phase. 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. 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 this is not possible.

Social responsibility at Netz OÖ GmbH

Netz OÖ GmbH has prepared an ESG risk analysis in the area of gas and electricity that examines issues related to social affairs, environment, work, and customers. 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 business 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 the Energie AG Group. Dedicated sustainability topics were developed for a more specific presentation of Netz OÖ GmbH together with quantitative and qualitative key performance indicators to be measured were set in the form of success factors based on these issues. The business activities of Netz OÖ GmbH 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).