Salzburg AG is investing 340 million euros in the green energy future!

Salzburg AG is investing 340 million euros in the green energy future!

Salzburg AG plans to strengthen the sustainable energy supply in the region with investments of 340 million euros in 2025. A total of 1.5 billion euros is expected to flow into Salzburg as an energy location in the coming years. Herwig Struber, CEO of Salzburg AG, emphasizes the relevance of the expansion of hydropower, solar and wind energy as well as grid expansion. Two new hydroelectric power plants, Sulzau and Stegenwald, will go into operation in 2025. In addition, the Offenauer-Berg project in Golling/Tennengau is in the pre-project phase, while a citizen dialogue has been initiated to involve residents in the planning process.

In order to secure the future of energy supply, a location development concept will be implemented until 2040. This concept is intended to serve as a guiding principle for Salzburg AG's properties and to evaluate all properties and buildings as part of a location development program. The focus will be on the Salzburg AG Campus and the technology and logistics center in Hagenau, where 1,200 new jobs are to be created. There are also considerations about potential housing units for employees and apprentices, which should be part of a comprehensive training concept.

Golling hydropower project

A central element of the expansion of renewable energies in Salzburg is the planned Salzach hydroelectric power plant in Golling. This is currently in the preliminary examination phase, and dialogue events are scheduled for June 14th and 15th at Golling Middle School. The plans of VERBUND and Salzburg AG are presented here in order to provide citizens with information about energy supply, approval procedures and ecological aspects. Project manager Hannes Badura emphasizes the careful handling of the Salzachklamm, an important local recreation area, while Mayor Martin Dietrich emphasizes the importance of transparency in communication.

The Salzach power plant is expected to produce around 30 megawatts, which corresponds to an annual electricity production of around 130 million kWh. This amount of energy is enough to power 35,000 to 40,000 households. The project development takes into account environmental compatibility, in particular the water flow and the protection of the ecology of the Salzachklamm. A minimum winter water flow is maintained, and the geological formations and erosion scours are part of the nature conservation concept.

Future prospects and schedule

The submission of documents for the environmental impact assessment (EIA) is planned for 2025. The review itself is expected to take 2 to 3 years, with possible construction beginning in 2028 at the earliest. The construction period could be up to 4 years. Throughout the project development, a high focus will be placed on biodiversity in order to create replacement habitats for affected animal species and to promote the circular economy in order to relieve pressure on the public road network.

With these initiatives and investments, Salzburg AG makes a decisive contribution to climate and environmental policy in the region by striving for a future-proof and sustainable energy supply. For more information about the investments and planned projects, visit meinkreis.at and presse.salzburg-ag.at.