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Biogas in Austria

General
Renewable energy policy in Austria exists on three levels: the Federal level, the regional level of the provinces (Bundesländer) and the local level of municipalities. Important contributions from renewable energy sources regard large hydropower for electricity, biomass for heat and power and solar thermal installations. On the Federal level the programme klima:aktiv (started 2004 by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management) aims at reducing CO2-emission and increasing the penetration of renewable energy sources. Regarding renewables, focus is on biogas and biomass, solar thermal and heat pumps. Typical for the Austrian programmes is that they are easily accessible through the internet and through telephone hotlines.

With the decision of the Green Electricity Act 2009 of 23 September 2009 in the National Council (confirmed October 8, 2009 in the Bundesrat) essential contents of the second Ökostromgesetz of 2008 entered into force. The decision of Parliament had become necessary because of concerns of the European Commission regarding the cost cap for energy intensive industry (Ökostromkostendeckelung) , which will therefore not enter into force.

The following changes can be observed:

According to the Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources the target for the share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy in the year 2020 for Austria is 34% (in the year 2005 the share was 23.3%). The Directive has a mandatory 10 % target for transport to be achieved by all Member States, which refers to renewable sources as a whole, not biofuels alone.

Renewable energy projections according to the National Renewable Energy Action Plan for Austria
The National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) for Austria was submitted in July 2010. The target according to Annex I of Directive 2009/28/EC is 34% for the year 2020 and the projected NREAP share in that year is 34.2%.  According to the projection, the most important contribution in the year 2020 is expected from hydropower (42.1 TWh or 3621 ktoe, 39% of all renewable energy). Second important contribution is expected from biomass (renewable heating and cooling) (3607 ktoe, 39% of all renewable energy). The third largest contribution is from biomass (renewable electricity) (5.1 TWh or 443 ktoe, 5% of all renewable energy). Onshore wind power contributes with 2.6 GW (4.8 TWh) in the year 2020. For solar photovoltaic the 2020 contribution is projected to be 322 MW (306 GWh). For solar thermal the 2020 contribution is projected to be 269 ktoe. The two most important biofuels are projected to contribute 410 ktoe (biodiesel) and 80 ktoe (bioethanol / bio-ETBE) by 2020. The renewable electricity production from solid biomass amounts to 4.5 TWh (390 ktoe) and for biogas it is expected to be 0.6 TWh (50 ktoe). The consumption of renewable heat is expected to amount to 3591 ktoe for solid biomass and 16 ktoe for biogas.

Renewable heat and power: biogas
According to the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) for Austria the contribution of electricity from biogas amounts to 553 GWh (97 MW) in the year 2010 and 581 GWh (102 MW) in the year 2020. In energy terms, this represents an average annual growth of 0% per year (1% per year in capacity terms). Renewable heat from biogas is projected to amount to 15 ktoe in the year 2010 and 16 ktoe in the year 2020 (representing an average annual growth of 1% per year). 

The klima:aktiv programme has biogas as one of the priorities. Special focus in this programme is on providing information (conferences, networking events, training), communication and research.

In the Green Electricity Order 2010, feed-in tariffs for photovoltaics, wind power, geothermics, biomass (including waste with a high biogenic share), biogas as well as landfill and sewage gas are determined. The validity period of feed-in tariffs is 13 years for photovoltaics, windpower, bothermal, and landfill and sewage gas and 15 years for solid and liquid biomass and biogas. While tariffs until 2009 since the first amendment of the Green Electricity Order 2006 have remained largely unchained, within the scope of the Green Electricity Order 2010 clear adjustments have been made to the support system: The feed-in tariffs for windpower, geothermics, biogas, and landfill and sewage gas have increased by up to 28 %. According to Green Electricity Ordinance 2010, the fixed prices for biogas systems up to 250 kWe is 18.50 €ct / kWh, for systems from 250 kWe to 500 kWe 16.50 €ct / kWh, and for systems over 500 kWe 13.00 €ct / kWh.

For biomass, biogas or mixed plants, an annual fuel efficiency of at least 60 % is a requirement for the granting of feed-in tariffs which requires a CHP plant as an essential prerequisite.

The integration of biogas in Austria is regulated in two legal provisions. Grid access for producers of biogas and the basic references to the definition of quality criteria are provided for in the Austrian Gas Act (GWG). Under GWG producers of biogenic gas have the right to grid access, i.e. they have the right to use the Austrian grid system. Furthermore, producers of biogenic gas (biogas and woodgas) can even request grid access on behalf of their customers provided that the interoperability of grids is not compromised as a result. If the determined quality requirements are met, the distribution system operator is responsible for granting grid connections and access. The right to access the grid is therefore granted to biogas producers, but also with reference to the quality criteria to be met for the integration of biogas. The distribution system operator charges the plant operator those expenses incurred through the initial establishment of the connection of the biogas plant to the distribution grid in the form of a grid access fee. These costs must be entirely born by the biogas suppliers; a possible financing of this grid development through the system usage fee, such as is the case for the development of the Austrian gas network, is not currently provided for.

Future programme changes expected
No future changes available.

Sources

Austrian klima:aktiv programme, http://www.klimaaktiv.at

Source: ECN database on National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAPs), data for Austria, http://www.ecn.nl/nreap, October 2010

Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/transparency_platform_en.htm

The National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAPs) are all published on the Transparency Platform on Renewable Energy: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/transparency_platform/action_plan_en.htm (sourced July - December 2010)

Renewable Energy Projections as Published in the National Renewable Energy Action Plans of the European Member States, http://www.ecn.nl/nreap (sourced December 2010)

Interactive EurObserv’ER Database
http://www.eurobserv-er.org
Last update: December 2010

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