Austria launches study to expand hydropower and speed licensing

The Austrian Ministry of Economy has commissioned a potential study to assess where new run‑of‑river and pumped‑storage hydropower plants can be built and how existing facilities can be expanded. The study will also examine ways to simplify and accelerate permitting procedures such as environmental impact assessments and water‑rights approvals, with results expected by the end of 2026.

The goal is to generate an additional five terawatt‑hours of hydropower by 2030 – enough electricity for roughly 1.4 million households – and to reduce reliance on electricity imports and gas‑fired generation. Austria already leads the EU in renewable electricity, with 90 % of its gross electricity consumption coming from renewables in 2024, and hydropower accounting for 54‑67 % of domestic generation.