The comprehensively revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), which came into force on November 20, 2023, sets, among other things, higher targets for the share of renewable energy in the gross final energy consumption of the member states by 2030.

For Austria, this implies a significant increase in the share of renewable energy from the current 36.4% to at least 60% by 2030, with a particular focus on the building and heating sector, which includes heating, hot water supply, cooling and process heat. Here, Austria is to almost double its use of renewable energy in order to achieve the targets set.

Two articles of the directive in particular play a decisive role in controlling heat consumption. Article 15a sets an EU-target of 49% for the share of renewable energy in the “buildings sector”. Article 23, on the other hand, refers to the entire heating and cooling sector, including process heat consumption in trade and industry.

The implementation of both Article 15a and Article 23 means the following joint target for Austria by 2030: increasing the share of renewable energy sources in the heating sector to 70%.

The EU member states have 18 months to integrate this directive into national legislation.

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