What does the rapidly progressing climate change mean for hydropower in Austria? This question is at the centre of a new study published by consultancy firm Afry on behalf of Oesterreichs Energie. The authors conclude that, contrary to frequent calls of alarm, hydropower will grow in significance in the future. One of the reasons identified by the authors is the progressing shift of precipitation to the winter months, which should help to compensate for the typical gap in supply during the cold time of year.

The experts also recommend a further expansion of storage and pumped-storage facilities. These types of facility serve as a complementary technology for volatile energy sources such as wind power and photovoltaics. What is more, they are able to dampen regional extreme events and compensate fluctuations in the available water volume. Storage power plants contribute to the flexibility of the power supply system on various time scales, with short-term and long-term compensation capabilities being particularly relevant with respect to climate change issues. As a result of changing climatic conditions, the frequency of heavy rains is showing an upward trend. Reservoirs can help to mitigate the effects of short, heavy rains in their catchment area, allowing the extra water to be stored for later use, for example, during times of low output from wind and photovoltaic facilities.