Upper Austria, with Wels at its heart, has made the most progress within energy efficient solutions and technology. As of right now, the region has made massive contributing to Austria’s broader energy transition goals, which is understandable as the region accounts for 25% of the nation's industrial exports. Industrial energy efficiency, in particular, takes center stage as manufacturing is responsible for 44% of total energy consumption and decarbonizing this sector is crucial for the energy transition.
Annually, €2.3 billion is invested in the energy transition, with 30% allocated specifically to energy efficiency measures in industry. Despite this substantial investment, the journey to climate neutrality remains largely uncharted territory for many companies in Wels and the rest of Upper Austria. To address this, the regional energy agency of Upper Austria (OÖ Energiesparverband) has launched the Industrial Energy Transition Leaders initiative, aimed at translating the industrial energy transition into reality. This initiative, groundbreaking for the region, is a collaborative effort involving 15 pioneering companies dedicated to developing practical, real-life approaches to achieving carbon neutrality. These Energy Leaders employ over 25,000 staff and generate more than €7 billion in annual turnover across 400 locations. As trailblazers, they have already implemented numerous energy efficiency and renewable energy projects within their operations, reducing costs and enhancing competitiveness.
The participating companies have made significant strides in energy transition through various investments and organizational measures. These include the installation of LED lighting, renewable heat solutions from biomass and heat pumps, heat recovery systems, procurement of green electricity, extensive photovoltaic (PV) systems, implementation of energy management systems, adoption of electric vehicles, and setting ambitious efficiency standards for new buildings and renovations. Looking ahead, the focus will shift towards leveraging innovations to address economically or technologically challenging areas. Key areas include the decarbonization of logistics and transport, high-temperature processes, and integrating suppliers into the transition process.