ÖBB Press Release – 29 April 2022

ÖBB states in its first sustainability report that it plans to invest one billion euro in renewable energies such as hydroelectric power, wind power and photovoltaics. ÖBB already produces around 750 GWh of electricity at nine of its own hydroelectric power plants, with another under construction. Green traction power is also produced exclusively for ÖBB at four partner plants. ÖBB currently operates 45 photovoltaic systems, with a further 30 systems planned for 2022, including a photovoltaic system with heated solar modules for snow regions. ÖBB’s energy strategy also includes plans for the first wind turbine producing green traction power to be connected to the grid in 2022. Its climate protection strategy aims to decarbonise the entire company on a gradual basis.

The first step is to make ÖBB’s transport activities climate neutral by 2030. ÖBB wants all areas of the entire group, such as buildings, to be climate neutral between 2040 and 2050. “Sustainability means that we think about the future in everything we are doing today, and that we are unconditionally honest about it,” said Andreas Matthä, CEO of ÖBB.

Source: EuroHebdo SNCF issue no. 997, 20 May 2022