Energy consumption in Austria fell last year

Overall energy consumption fell by 1% in Austria last year, compared to 2023, new data from Statistics Austria has found.

Total energy consumption stood at 1,044 petajoules (PJ) in 2024, with private household energy use declining by 5%, while service sector use rose by 4% and industrial use was up 1%.

Warmer weather

According to Manuela Lenk, director general, statistics, at Statistics Austria, “one reason for the overall decline was warmer weather and a 5% drop in private household consumption. In the services sector, consumption rose by 4% year-on-year. The very slight increase in industrial consumption of just under 1% reflects the consistently low level of production.”

Energy use in the services sector totalled 97 petajoules (PJ), while industrial usage totalled 288 PJ. Elsewhere, road transport usage fell by 1% to 296 PJ, but air transport consumption was up 11% to 41 PJ, on a par with the highest level recorded in 2019.

Renewable energy’s share of total final consumption increased in Austria last year, from 19% to 20%, although petroleum products still accounted for the largest share of energy use (35%), followed by electricity (22%), renewables (20%), and natural gas (15%).

Consumption of oil products decreased by 2% overall due to lower heating demand, though this was partly offset by higher transport fuel use.

The use of natural gas also declined, in both households and industrial processes, seeing a decline of 8% in heating use (to 45 PJ) and a 2% drop for industrial use (to 95 PJ).

Renewable generation

In terms of energy production, meanwhile, domestic primary energy production rose 5% in Austria last year, to 584 PJ, driven by a 6% rise in renewable energy generation to 518 PJ.

Production of hydropower was up 12% to 165 PJ, while wind and solar output rose by 15% and 18%, respectively.

Total electricity production rose by 11% to 284 PJ, enabling Austria to remain a net exporter of electricity for the second consecutive year.

‘Between 2000 and 2022, Austria was a net electricity importer; in 2023 and 2024, an electricity surplus was produced,’ Statistics Austria said. Read more here.