Carinthia can meet 2040 climate targets with more wind and solar

Carinthia can still meet its climate targets for 2040 if policymakers act now and expand renewable energy, according to a study presented by the Energy Security Alliance Carinthia and reported by ORF.

The study, prepared by CU Carinthia, formerly Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, was commissioned by the Carinthian state government but is not an official state strategy. It was completed in April and presented in connection with the 31st UN climate conference, which is taking place in Antalya, Turkey.

It identifies substantial potential for wind power. Of 19,000 hectares assessed as theoretically suitable, 12,000 hectares are considered feasible, equivalent to 1.3% of the state’s area. Depending on the scenario, between about one-third and 80% of that potential would be used. This would require around 200 wind turbines, while current wind-power zoning allows a maximum of 50.

The study also calls for a significant increase in solar power. Energy and environmental engineer Bernhard Reinitzhuber said Carinthia would need about two terawatt-hours of electricity from photovoltaics, requiring 2,000 hectares. That is 0.2% of the state’s area, or twice the area of the Völkermarkter reservoir.

The authors see little scope to expand hydropower. The prolonged dry spell this year was not considered in the study, which dates from April.

If its proposed strategy were implemented, Carinthia could save more than 250 million euros in energy costs by 2040 compared with spending in 2019, co-author Albrecht Grießhammer said.