Burgenland Energy: The path to a climate-neutral future by 2030!

Burgenland Energy: The path to a climate-neutral future by 2030!

Burgenland's energy future is taking shape. In recent years, Burgenland Energie has developed from a regional energy supplier into a pioneer in the field of green technologies. CEO Dr. Stephan Sharma highlights that climate protection and energy independence are key concerns that are now being actively pursued. Europe has shown itself to be increasingly dependent on energy imports in recent years, with a rate of 75 percent, Austria at 59 percent and Burgenland at 37 percent. Burgenland Energie wants to reduce this dependency by 2030 through a climate-neutral and energy self-sufficient region. The aim is not only to contribute to energy independence, but also to become one of Europe's leading greentech companies. Haufe reports that the company has been working on this strategic plan since 2021.

As part of this transformation, Burgenland Energie relies heavily on wind and solar energy. The company has been active in wind energy for over 20 years and currently operates 214 wind turbines that generate around 638 megawatts. Particularly noteworthy are innovative projects such as Europe's largest agri-PV system and the first wind-PV hybrid park in Austria, as well as an organic electricity storage system. These initiatives clearly show how Burgenland wants to exploit the potential of renewable energies. And digitalization is also a central topic, for example through the broadband expansion in 16 cadastral communities and the “BE.SpareFlo” tool, which analyzes and optimizes energy consumption. Die Presse has mentioned that there are also educational projects to raise awareness of environmental issues and renewable energies.

Involvement of the population

Another important aspect of Burgenland Energie's strategy is the active involvement of the population. Joint projects with agriculture and the formation of energy communities show that citizens should be included in the energy transition. To visualize this vision, primary school children were involved in a painting competition that addressed their ideas about a green future. Dr. Sharma names four key success factors for this transformation: willingness to change, customer-oriented action, the involvement of all relevant groups and strong partnerships. These are prerequisites for actually achieving the ambitious climate goals.

In the context of European climate protection policy, one must also keep an eye on broader sustainability efforts. The EU aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent by 2030, with the long-term goal of achieving greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050. Burgenland Energie is also contributing to achieving these goals with its strategy. The sectoral approach of the EU's climate protection policy covers all relevant areas, including the energy sector, which causes around 26 percent of emissions. Umweltbundesamt explains the requirements that will apply to companies in the EU from 2025, including the obligation to prepare ESG reports, which Burgenland Energie has already successfully implemented.

In summary, it can be said that Burgenland Energie not only focuses on a sustainable energy supply, but also wants to increase awareness of renewable energies in society. The ambitious projects and the clear strategy up to 2030 show that the company is well on the way to realizing its visions.