Key indicators of climate change and the energy sector in 2025 : special topic: the role of grid-scale battery storage in the energy transition

The year 2023 was marked by inflation and recession. Austria again emitted significantly less greenhouse gases than in the previous year (–6.6 percent), and energy consumption also declined (–2.5 percent). This development was partly due to the economic downturn and, in addition, due to persistently high energy prices as a result of the war in Ukraine, mild weather, the expansion of renewable energy technologies, and improvements in the energy efficiency of capital stocks. Greenhouse gas emissions reached their lowest level since 1990 (68.7 million t of CO2 equivalents). Nevertheless, there is still a great need for action to achieve Austria's goal of climate neutrality by 2040, especially as preliminary data for 2024 indicate a significant slowdown in emission reductions. This year's special topic deals with the potential of grid-scale battery storage to contribute to the energy transition through its complementarity with renewable generation technologies, especially photovoltaics. In a smart regulatory environment, the combination of battery storage and photovoltaics can smooth and reduce electricity prices and reduce the need for grid expansion.