Austria’s wind industry is an emerging sector with investment projects worth over 3 billion euros in the pipeline. The year 2025 will be crucial for achieving domestic energy sovereignty. The country’s prosperity and added value are currently facing significant challenges.
“Is Austria free, or is the country putting itself in chains?” asks Florian Maringer, Managing Director of IG Windkraft, highlighting concerns about location security and independence from electricity imports.
In 2023, Austria spent approximately 18.2 billion euros on energy imports.
Electricity, which accounts for about a third of Austria’s total energy consumption, is a critical factor for industries seeking secure and regional supply. In 2023, Austria’s total energy consumption reached 287 TWh, with 81 TWh used by the manufacturing sector. In 2024, wind farms in the European Union provided nearly a fifth of the total electricity demand. The domestic wind industry is prepared for Austria’s journey toward energy independence. Achieving this goal requires a comprehensive approach to modernising the energy system and actively promoting the rapid expansion of renewable energies and the grid.
“The next federal government has the responsibility, at a crucial moment, to ensure that Austria continues to be supplied with affordable and secure electricity in the future,” warned IG Windkraft Chairman Josef Plank at a press conference on Wednesday, 22 January. For example, every second job in Carinthia or Styria depends on industry, whose energy needs will double by 2040.
Wind energy will increase Austria’s productivity
By the end of 2024, 1,451 wind turbines, mainly located in Lower Austria and Burgenland, generated around 16% of Austria’s electricity consumption—enough to power approximately 2.65 million households. By the end of 2025, an additional 62 wind turbines, capable of generating around 889 GWh, will be built in Lower Austria and Burgenland.
Austria produces approximately 7.9 million tonnes of steel annually. With the addition of 2,000 MW from the “wind power pipeline” over the next three years, new electric arc furnaces could produce up to 12 million tonnes of steel. This would represent an increase of around 50% compared to current production levels. Additionally, the total energy consumption of various industrial sites, such as Infineon in Villach, could be supported by approximately 25 wind turbines based on the current models installed in Austria. This expansion could meet 40% of the electricity consumption of the chemical industry or fulfill 160% of ÖBB’s electricity needs.
According to calculations made by Florian Maringer, “Over the next three years, Austria’s wind industry has projects with an investment volume of more than 3 billion euros and a generation capacity of more than 2,000 MW in its quiver. These wind turbines can produce more than 8,000 GWh of electricity annually.” This corresponds to half of Austria’s wind power output in the past 25 years.
“In order to ensure a future for Austria as a location, industrial companies and jobs, the new federal government only needs to open the floodgates of the pipeline,” says Florian Maringer. “The constant reports of weakening industry and the economy are paradoxical when you consider that a powerful sector is ready to breathe fresh air,” emphasises IG Windkraft chairman Josef Plank.
“Domestic wind power is an important lever for future value creation and competitiveness,” says Plank—the industry employs around 7,900 domestic workers.
IG Windkraft represents the Austrian wind industry, with operators of about 95% of the installed wind power capacity in Austria as association members. The Austrian wind energy industry now employs around 7,900 people and operates internationally in energy generation and supply. In 2023, it generated total sales of 1.74 billion euros, making it a significant contributor to the domestic economy.
