Towards an Open Austrian Sector-Coupled Energy System Model within a European context

Austria has committed to achieving Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, with an intermediate target of attaining a 100% renewable electricity supply by 2030 in national balance. These goals demand a comprehensive transformation of the Austrian energy sector, calling for tailored energy system models that can effectively support planning and policy decision-making. 

For Austria, existing national energy system models are limited in spatial or temporal resolution or lack consistent integration within the European energy system. Conversely, European sector-coupled models typically do not provide the level of detail required to tackle Austrian-focused questions. These include future energy infrastructure needs (e.g. pipelines and transmission lines), the implementation of national policy frameworks and the realistic representation of transition pathways from today’s energy system towards net zero. 

We propose to close these gaps by developing an Austria-focused energy system model embedded within a broader European context. Building on the PyPSA-EUR framework and methodologies introduced in PyPSA-DE, we develop PyPSA-AT, a model tailored to Austria’s specific requirements. Key features include high spatial and temporal resolution of Austria’s energy system, inter-connection into Europe’s energy system, extensive inclusion of country-specific input data and national policies as well as model calibration on Austria’s energy balance. 

Compared to the pan-European PyPSA-EUR model, first outputs from PyPSA-AT indicate higher domestic infrastructure requirements. Additionally, the Austrian model results in more extensive deployment of wind, and distinct patterns of energy imports and exports. By providing a granular, Austria-centric representation within a European framework, PyPSA-AT supports robust and actionable policy insights on Austria’s pathway towards net zero.