In 2020 there were already over 15,000 applications in Austria.
Heating with oil is no longer considered ecologically up-to-date.
Climate protection minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) is particularly interested in thermal renovation, “because here are the jobs that have a future and that we need on the way out of the crisis. With thermal renovation, we promote regional jobs, regional added value and climate protection. Every euro that is invested here helps twice and three times, “she said in the APA interview.
The numbers speak for the minister: The number of applications for the get-out-of-oil bonus has increased more than tenfold. In 2018, funding for switching to a climate-friendly heating system was granted 1,154 times through the Raus-aus-Öl-Bonus, whereas in 2020 there were already over 15,000 applications.
This initiative will continue in the coming years with a large budget focus. In 2021, a total of 350 million euros will be available for the renovation offensive, 200 million of which will be for Get Out of Oil. In the following years then each 400 million euros.
Sharp increase in e-cars
An increase due to government subsidies is also measured in e-mobility. In January 2020, the proportion of all-electric cars in new registrations was three percent. In December it was already 14.3 percent. Over the course of the year, that is a four-fold increase in the share of electric cars in new registrations and also the highest value ever achieved in Austria in one month. According to Gewessler, the key to this was increasing the e-mobility subsidy to 5,000 euros.
Our goal is to use 100 percent renewable energy by 2030.
Gewessler cites the Renewable Energy Expansion Act (EAG) as a central instrument for the energy transition. “Our goal is to use 100 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030. We are currently at around 70 percent, which is good, but we still have a lot to do.” The law is currently being worked on after the assessment phase and should be presented to the Council of Ministers in the first quarter. A central building block of the law are energy communities, which enable citizens to produce and purchase electricity together.
“There are new players in the energy system and each of us can become part of it. I can build photovoltaic systems on my roof together with my neighbors, or the community can produce electricity on the roof of the fire station and the community center important part of the energy transition and we are implementing it for the first time. We absolutely want to achieve the stated goal and that is why the funding system is very targeted and is based on the individual technologies. To do this, we have taken a close look at what works and what doesn't in other countries “, said the Minister.
Gewessler is very pleased with the change in power in the USA and the announcement by the new President Joe Biden that the USA will be returned to the Paris Agreement. “The USA is an important partner in the fight against the climate crisis.”
