19.02.2020.
VERBUND is Austria's leading electricity company and one of the largest producers of electricity from hydropower in Europe. Close to 100% of our electricity generation comes from climate-friendly, renewable hydropower. That's why we are glad to have Verbund as our partner for the SDG7.
Could you describe what you do and how do you drive a positive impact?
"Sustainability is the core element of VERBUND’s vision. We are Austria’s leading electricity company and one of the largest producers of electricity from hydropower in Europe. 95 % of our electricity generation comes from climate-friendly, renewable resources. We are also working to shape the future of energy by developing technologies to generate and use hydrogen and new technologies for flexible storage.
As Austria’s leading utility, we support the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We are especially committed to those goals where our activities can make a real difference. We see in particular the ecological goals like SDG 7, 13 and 15 as a core mission of our business. But we also contribute to the other goals as we acknowledge that the SDGs can only be reached as a whole.
VERBUND’s core business is to generate renewable energy. Most of that energy we generate from hydropower, complimented by onshore wind power plants and solar power as a contribution to decarbonization. In times of climate change, renewable energies become more important than ever. They will be essential to make the transition to a world without fossil fuels." said the Verbund team.
Why do you say Austria is fortunate?
"Austria is located in an alpine region rich in waters. Thus hydropower has been playing a key role in the generation of energy in Austria for a long time. 60% of Austria’s energy generation comes from hydropower plants. And a total of ca. 75% come from renewable sources like water, wind, solar and biomass."
You have more than 70 years of experience.
"Yes, VERBUND has been generating energy from hydropower for more than 70 years. 131 hydropower plants in Austria and Bavaria (Germany) are generating emission-free electricity. How? Hydropower plants harness water’s power by converting the kinetic energy of falling water into mechanical energy. Then a generator converts the mechanical energy from the turbine into electricity."
Would you say you are leading a renewable revolution?
"The future of energy is renewable! To reach Austria’s goal of 100 % renewable electricity by 2030, an additional 27 TWh of clean energy is needed. The Austrian government sees the greatest growth potential in the expansion of photovoltaic (11 TWh) and wind farms (10 TWh). VERBUND is already operating wind farms in Austria, Germany, and Romania and plans to further expand wind and solar power generation.
By doing what we are best at, using renewables for energy generation, increasing the energy efficiency of our hydropower plants and developing new renewable energies, we contribute to the development of clean energy and SDG 7." concluded Verbund team.
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