Green Energy Tour to Burgenland
Visits of Energie Burgenland Green Energy GmbH in Weiden am See, and to the wind power company PÜSPÖK Erneuerbare Energie GmbH
Considering the current high interest in energy supply and especially renewable energy the CdH organized for its members visits to Energie Burgenland Green Energy GmbH in Weiden am See, and to the wind power company PÜSPÖK Erneuerbare Energie GmbH in Parndorf, on 16 May 2023.
The CEO of the mother company Burgenland Energy AG, Mag. Dr. Stephan Sharma, received us in one of its windparks in Weiden am See. He offered a powerpoint presentation informing us about the company, 51% held by the Province of Burgenland and 49% held by Burgenland Holding AG (out of it 74% held by EVN, the leading energy company in Lower Austria). Burgenland Energy AG is a main producer of wind energy as well as solar energy and other renewable sources, it is the energy grid operator in the Province of Burgenland, runs the first green regional digital plattform and develops broadband service. It is selling electricity, gas and district heating to public institutions, private companies and private citizens.
CEO Mag. Dr. Sharma talked about the climate crisis which has arrived in the Province of Burgenland as there are lakes disappearing or losing most of their water. Austria and especially Burgenland offers a substantial renewable energy share. 2020 it was 18% on average in the EU, 33% in Austria and 50% in Burgenland. Burgenland aims to reach climate neutrality by 2030. It would be the first carbon-neutral region in the world. CEO Sharma continued presenting more data and pointed out that apart of being the nr. 1 producer of wind energy in Austria since 20 years (2018: Turbines 614 MW capacity) it is now becoming the leading producer of solar energy in Austria as well with the largest solar farm in Nickelsdorf, northern Burgenland. CEO Sharma informed us, that Burgenland Energie offers companies and private persons contracts for installating solar energy units, erected and maintained by Burgenland Energie. In case of the production surpassing the consumption the overproduction is fed into the grid under attractive conditions.
Energie Burgenland Green Energy GmbH is one of the business units of
Burgenland Energie AG and is specialized in wind and photovoltaic electricity
generation and also biomass production for district heating. Being the
number one company in wind powered electricity generation and on its way to
becoming the number one in photovoltaic electricity generation in Austria, the
company is a leading producer of sustainable energy and has a bright future
ahead of it. Wind and solar energy are now the cheapest sources of
electricity generation. The Austrian province of Burgenland has been
self-sufficient in energy since 2013 and is currently investing in further wind
parks and re-powering projects. New concepts such as hydrogen production
from wind energy and power-2-heat will further improve energy availability in
the province. Another production division is involved in producing
biomass, based on wood, to be used in district heating facilities.
Presentation by
Dr. Stephan Sharma, M.A., CEO, Energie Burgenland Group
>> For more information about the speaker please refer to
CV provided
After having visited Burgenland Energie we continued the excursion visiting the company PÜSPÖK Erneuerbare Energie GmbH. We were received by Managing Director Mag. Reinhard Pitzer, who informed us about the company and its activities presenting a powerpoint. PÜSPÖK is a pioneer company in wind energy using the favourable wind conditions around Parndorf in the north of Burgenland. The leading family business in wind energy holds now a capacity of 420 MW. Managing Director Pitzer pointed out to the expensive imports of electricity which could be avoided by a more intensive usage of renewable energy. Apart of wind energy PÜSPÖK is starting to install a solar energy park as well. Until 2030 the company plans to have capacities of 800 MW wind power and 425 MW solar power.
PÜSPÖK was founded by the pioneer of wind energy production in Austria, Mr.
Paul PÜSPÖK, 25 years ago. He started with the construction of the first
windparks in Burgenland. PÜSPÖK is a family business now in its second
generation, and, apart from wind energy production, the company is active in
electricity marketing, repowering-projects of power plants as well as in the
development and operation of photovoltaic-projects.
Presentation by
Mag. Reinhard PITZER, Managing Director, PÜSPÖK Erneuerbare
Energie GmbH
>>
For more information about the speaker please refer to CV provided
