Microorganisms as powerhouses for electricity storage

Categories
Green Austria

An innovative process for storing electricity generated from renewable energy sources is now market ready, a fourth patent application having been filed. The process, which was developed by Austrian company Krajete GmbH and is based on microorganisms, enables a highly efficient and environmentally friendly conversion of climate-damaging CO2 and hydrogen into – storable – methane. […]

Verbund shows signs of improvement despite uncertain economic conditions

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Business

Austrian electricity company Verbund has presented a positive business development for the first quarter 2012 in spite of what it described as a “challenging market and industry environment”. Revenue, operating result and Group result were all significantly improved due to the good water supply and higher average sales prices. Verbund continues to invest consequently in […]

Amendment could cause gas price decline

Categories
Business

The head of energy sector watchdog E-Control has disclosed his plans for fairer gas prices. Walter Boltz told the Kurier today (Thurs) that a change of the current gas market law was planned for the beginning of next year. He said this step would allow Austrian firms to acquire transit gas. Boltz said it was […]

Flaming Idiot

Categories
Green Austria

Fare dodger Andreas F burst into flames when he stepped on a high voltage railway electricity cable trying to take a short cut out of a station in Breitensee, Austria, from a bridge onto a platform roof. Police say a 39-year-old man is in a “critical” condition in hospital with severe burns.

AK furious as rents shoot up

Categories
Business

The Labour Chamber (AK) has criticised real estate managers over sharp price hikes. The organisation said yesterday (Weds) that rents for flats rose by 34.5 per cent on average between 2001 and 2010 while the inflation climbed by just 21 per cent at the same time. AK officials called on property dealers to stop charging […]

Energy discount in eastern Austria

Categories
Business

Three leading electricity providers have reduced their prices. The Austrian Energy Alliance – the distribution agency of Vienna’s Wien Energie, Lower Austrian company EVN AG and Eisenstadt-based BEWAG – said yesterday (Weds) it reduced the price for one kilowatt hour (KWh) of electricity by 3.3 per cent at the beginning of this month. The decrease […]

Verbund tight-lipped about prices

Categories
Business

Austria’s leading electricity provider will not reveal its decision on possible price increases before the first quarter of next year. Verbund AG pointed out yesterday (Thurs) that it did not raise its consumer prices this year. It added that information about price developments for next year will not be announced before the first three months […]

Röttgen rules out electricity shortage

Categories
Politics

German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen has emphasised that his country would not be facing an energy supply crisis this winter despite its farewell to nuclear technology. The German government coalition of CDU, Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) decided around half a year ago to order […]

EVN turnover drops as gas price hike is imminent

Categories
Business

Lower Austrian energy sector giant EVN AG has suffered a slight decline in turnover despite selling more electricity and gas to customers in the past winter. The firm announced today (Thurs) its turnover slid by 0.9 per cent to 2.16 billion Euros from the first three quarters of the 2009/2010 business year to the next […]

Tyrol hit by power cut double strike

Categories
General News

The Innsbruck area has been affected by a power cut for a second time in as many days. Local electricity providers said today (Thurs) around 3,000 households had been affected by the 45-minute disruption yesterday afternoon. They explained investigations into the cause were ongoing. Tyrolean officials stressed that the most recent incident was unrelated to […]