According to the government’s plans, the Mellach coal-fired power station, which is currently shut down, is to be reactivated to make up for the lack of gas supplies from Russia. But that cannot be done before 2023, says Verbund boss Michael Strugl. Verbund operates the power plant in Styria.
“I can’t think about autumn. The board of directors of a public company will only make this decision if there is a legal basis that makes us economically safe,” Verbund boss Michael Strugl said in an interview with the daily newspaper “Die Presse”. “. The decommissioned district heating plant, which was built in 1986, could not supply energy until 2023 at the earliest. In June it was announced that the power station would be converted in such a way that coal can be used again with a limited supply of natural gas. The operator has agreed this with the federal government.
Until two years ago, the last coal-fired power station in Austria was mostly in operation during the heating season from September to May. About 80 percent of the needed district heating in Graz was produced there, and since about 2015, alternative energy sources have been increasingly added to the capital of Styria.
Strugl believes in security of supply in winter
In any case, the head of Verbund does not think there will be supply problems in the electricity in the winter. The condition is that the gas-fired power stations are still connected to the grid. “They provide 15 percent of the power generation, and significantly more in the winter. These power stations will also run in the case of energy control. We received this information from the Ministry. If not, we could have an electricity crisis soon,” Strugl told the press.
As for energy prices, he expects it to remain at a “very high level that we have not had until now.” However, this does not mean that companies will automatically make more profit. This would result in higher taxes and a higher dividend. The association would invest one billion euros annually in the expansion of generation, grids and storage.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
