Full of Energy - Energie AG Oberösterreich

ANNUAL REPORT2007/2008THE GROUPGROUP MANAGEMENT REPORTTHE ENERGY SEGMENTTHE WASTE MANAGEMENT SEGMENTTHE WATER SEGMENTCONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS18fossil energy source at all. The Power Tower onlyneeds about half the energy of a conventional officebuilding. As a result, the savings amount to some300 tons of CO 2 emissions per year. Energy is obtainedfrom the ground, the groundwater and the solar powerstation on the façade of the high-rise office building.Innovative Building ShellThe multi-functional building façade provides maximumlight permeability, while at the same time keepingthe thermal input to a minimum. One third of theshell consists of heat-insulating materials, and twothirds are glass. The result is a low thermal demandfor heating and a low demand for cooling purposes.By using innovative slatted blinds, the solar input is reducedby 90 per cent. No conventional air-condition -ing system is being used. The photo-voltaic systemon the south-west façade of the tower provides asignificant share of the basic electricity demand.With its surface of 700 m 2 , this solar power station isone of the largest of its kind in Austria. The solarpower station produces about 42,000 kWh of electricityper year. This is enough to supply 12 householdswith electricity for a whole year. This energy isused to operate the in-house heat and well pumps.Efficient Energy TechnologyThe technology of the Power Tower is such that it canprovide a healthy and pleasant indoor climate. Suspendedceiling panels for cooling with a radiationeffect replace heating appliances and an air-conditioningsystem. The ceiling heating adapts itself to theroom temperature in the offices: the ceiling has acooling or a heating function that is controlled by theintensity of the sunlight outdoors and the personsand appliances indoors. The supply with fresh air isobtained by controlled ventilation of the rooms – theair is changed twice per hour. The system has a lownoise level, promotes health and is cost-effective. Twogroundwater wells are used to cool the computercenter and to operate the fresh-air supply. The entirePower Tower does not need any of the otherwisecustomary power air-conditioning systems.Sustainable Energy GenerationThe energy for lighting, heating, cooling and ventilationis largely obtained from the sun, the soil and theground water. 6,900 meters of depth probes andfoundation piles bring heating and cooling from adepth of up to 150 m. The heat pumps are also usedas cooling generators. The energy balance thus yieldsa positive result. 1 kWh of electricity provides about4 kWh of heating or cooling. During transition pe -riods in spring and fall, no compressors are neededto obtain heating/cooling. During these periods, theenergy yield may actually be increased to 1:50.Energy Meets Art –Energy-Efficient Façade IlluminationThe light installation of 700 LED light bands acrossthe façade of the Power Tower has particularly highenergy efficiency. This light façade, which is part ofthe project "Art on Construction Sites", needs 1,400Watt at full operation, which is not more energy thana household vacuum cleaner needs.COMBINED-CYCLE GAS TURBINEPOWER PLANT AT TIMELKAM –RELIABLE ELECTRICITY SUPPLIESFOR UPPER AUSTRIAEnergie AG has prepared a future-oriented and valuebasedinvestment program that primarily builds onstrengthening own generation, in order to ensuresecurity of supply for Upper Austria. The new powerplant at Timelkam was put into operation during thefourth quarter of 2008.On account of the biomass power plant, togetherwith a coal-fired power plant, Timelkam is the mostim portant energy location of Energie AG. The 400 MWcombined-cycle gas turbine power plant producesits energy from natural gas. With a rate of about60 per cent, it has the highest efficiency level duringstandard operation that can currently be realized. Thenatural gas needed is transported via a pipeline thatcomes directly from Ferngas OÖ. AG, a subsidiarycompany. Natural gas is the cleanest material amongthe fossil energy sources. The most modern flue-gaspurification and filter systems ensure the best emissionvalues.The new combined-cycle gas turbine power plant hasan annual production of almost 2,500 GWh, whichallows it to meet the electricity demand of 700,000households. This raises own generation to about70 per cent. The power plant produces about twothirds less of CO 2 (carbon dioxide) per generated kilowatthour of electricity, as well as about 85 per centless NO x (nitrogen oxide) than a conventional coalfiredpower plant. In the medium term, the combined-cycle gas turbine unit is intended to replace thecoal-fired power plant at Timelkam, to be used as astand-by.The new power plant is a perfect example of energyefficiency and, at the same time, one of the most im -portant measures to save the climate in Upper Austria,since alternative forms of energy alone do not sufficeto meet the growing demand for electricity. Timelkamis thus an important pillar in ensuring reliable elec -tricity supplies in Upper Austria. This is a major step inthe direction of gaining independence from electricityimports.Further goals of the investment program of Energie AGare to expand hydro power, as well as to promoteinnovative options to generate electricity.FAIR ENERGY GMBH –KNOW-HOW FOR EUROPEEnergie AG is one of the first energy supply companiesin Europe that has bundled its energy-efficiencymeasures in a 100% subsidiary company, i.e. "FairEnergy GmbH". With this company, Energie AG isstrengthening its leading role as a company withenergy-efficiency competencies. In the years to come,know-how concerning energy efficiency will be ingreat demand. This applies especially to the fields ofconstruction and mobility. This is precisely the pointwhere Fair Energy GmbH steps in, using the effect ofbeing the first mover.The goal is to strengthen final energy efficiency, i.e.to build up a network between customers and skilledcraftsmen. Implementation of the energy-efficiencydirectives is supported by tools and training in build ingcertification, counseling and refurbishing. It is estimatedthat 150 million buildings in Europe – of which1.5 million are located in Austria – will have to be up -graded with respect to energy technology in the nextyears.An important step was the take-over of 40% in IfEAGmbH in June 2008. Fair Energy is thus in a positionto offer building certification as a product through outEurope, for single-family houses, multi-storey build -ings, both for commercial and industrial large-scaleprojects. Moreover, IfEA offers instruments to optimizeenergy consumption and to determine energyquality.Another line of business of the start-up company willbe to prepare energy programs for medium-sized in -dustrial and business enterprises. By acquiring companiesand participating in projects in the field ofinnovative energy technologies, Energie AG wants tobuild up an additional pillar. Current plans are to getaccess to the upstream generating industry such asthe photo-voltaic sector.With the implementation of numerous projects andideas, Energie AG is making an essential contributiontowards a sustainable development in Austria, and –already today – it is assuming the responsibility fortomorrow’s society.THE COMBINED-CYCLE GAS TURBINEPOWER PLANT IS THE BIGGEST ENERGY-EFFICIENCY MEASURE IN THE HISTORYOF UPPER AUSTRIA. CO 2 EMISSIONS PERGENERATED KILOWATT HOUR ARE RE-DUCED BY 66 PER CENT AND NO x EMIS-SIONS BY ALMOST 90 PER CENT.19