Proprietary data
Data Center Power & Policy in Austria
Every government action on data centers and power in Austria that we have verified: moratoriums, grid rules, incentives, tariffs and plans, with the power indicators that drive site selection.
By Amit Jain
Reviewed by Deepti Agrawal
Updated 22 October 2026
In short
As of 22 October 2026, DC Market Insights tracks 13 government actions on data centers and power in Austria, 7 of them in force. We have found no moratorium or restriction on new data centers in force in Austria.
Market snapshot
Austria power and policy: key facts
- Industrial electricity price: 169 USD/MWh (2026). Rank 9 of 28 tracked countries, highest first.
- Renewable share of electricity generation: 78% (2025). Rank 5 of 38 tracked countries, highest first.
- Grid emission factor: 0.15 kgCO2/kWh (2023). Rank 23 of 32 tracked countries, highest first.
- Latest change: New grid tariff principles (SNE-G-V) from 2027: 50:50 energy/capacity split and cheaper flexible capacity (E-Control, 12 Oct 2026).
- By type: 3 power tariff, 3 grid access, 2 regulation and 2 renewable energy.
Power indicators for Austria
Latest official figure for each indicator, with earlier years where we have them.
In force now in Austria
Grid access (2)
ElWG §§99-103: published grid capacity, paid reservation, queue by permits and flexible access for loads
Grid operators must publish permissible, available and booked connection capacity for generation, consumption and storage per substation, updated quarterly. Capacity can be reserved against a deposit that is forfeited if not used within 12 months. Connection requests are queued by the date all permits are in hand, so a data center needs its permits before it gets a place. Access can be refused for lack of capacity, and consumption plants may agree static or dynamic power limits (flexible access).
12 months Reservation period after which the deposit is forfeited
ElWG §97: network level set by connected load, more than 5 MW up to 200 MW at Netzebene 4 or 3
Grid operators assign the connection point by grid-effective capacity: up to 100 kW at Netzebene 7, 100-400 kW at NE6, 400-5,000 kW at NE5, and more than 5 MW up to 200 MW at NE4 or NE3 (110 kV). The network level decides which grid tariff a data center pays. Deviations are allowed for technical reasons or by agreement.
200 MW Upper bound of connected load assigned to Netzebene 4 or 3
Power tariff (2)
Grid use tariffs 2026 (SNE-V 2018 Novelle 2026, BGBl. II Nr. 305/2025)
E-Control's regulated grid tariffs in force from 1 Jan 2026. Transmission Netzebene 1: 0.2550 c/kWh energy plus 900.0 c/kW capacity plus a 0.1360 c/kWh gross component; Netzebene 2: 0.4200 c/kWh plus 1,000.0 c/kW. Netzebene 3 (capacity c/kW, energy c/kWh): Upper Austria 2,412 / 0.46, Vienna 3,852 / 0.49, Lower Austria 4,848 / 0.76. The upper-voltage rates differ by a factor of two between regions, which matters for siting large loads.
Electricity levy cut to 0.82 c/kWh for 2026 (BGBl. I Nr. 95/2025)
The federal electricity levy (Elektrizitätsabgabe) falls from 1.5 c/kWh to 0.82 c/kWh for calendar year 2026, with a further cut to 0.1 c/kWh mainly for households. The cut is limited to 2026.
0.82 EUR c/kWh Levy rate for 2026 (regular rate 1.5 c/kWh)
Renewable energy (1)
Renewable Expansion Act (EAG): 100% renewable electricity on a net basis by 2030
The Erneuerbaren-Ausbau-Gesetz sets two targets: cover total electricity consumption in 2030 100% from renewable sources on a balance-sheet basis, and add 27 TWh of renewable generation by 2030. E-Control's 2026 monitoring report puts the 2025 share at 78% of gross consumption.
100 % Net renewable share of electricity consumption targeted for 2030
Efficiency rule (1)
Energy Efficiency Act amendment (BGBl. I Nr. 29/2024): annual reporting for data centers of 500 kW IT or more
The amendment to the Federal Energy Efficiency Act transposes the EU Energy Efficiency Directive data center rules (Art. 12, Delegated Regulation 2024/1364). Owners and operators of data centers with at least 500 kW of installed IT power must report energy performance data from 15 May 2024 and every year after, including energy and power use, temperature set points, waste heat use, water use and renewable energy use.
500 kW Installed IT power threshold for the reporting duty
Regulation (1)
New Electricity Act (ElWG, BGBl. I Nr. 91/2025) replaces ElWOG 2010
The Elektrizitätswirtschaftsgesetz is Austria's new federal electricity market act. Its main provisions took effect the day after promulgation (24 Dec 2025) and ElWOG 2010 is repealed, except transitional sections; the old tariff provisions (ElWOG §§51-58a) lapse on 31 Dec 2026. The act has no data-center-specific clause, but its grid connection, capacity and flexibility rules apply to all large loads.
Announced and proposed
Measures that are not yet in force. Status changes when the rule takes effect or is withdrawn.
New grid tariff principles (SNE-G-V) from 2027: 50:50 energy/capacity split and cheaper flexible capacity
E-Control's new Systemnutzungsentgelte-Grundsatzverordnung under the ElWG is the basis for network charges from 1 Jan 2027. The ratio of energy price to capacity price moves in steps over three years to 50:50. Flexible withdrawal capacity is expected to pay only 25% of the regular capacity price, guaranteed for ten years, and replaces the interruptible tariff within three years.
25 % Expected share of the regular capacity price paid for flexible capacity
Draft EIA Act amendment 2026: mandatory EIA for new data centers of 100 MW or more (Z 19a)
A ministry draft amending the UVP-G 2000 (138/ME, sent for consultation on 20 Sep 2026, comments due 1 Nov 2026) adds a data center category to Annex 1: new data centers with installed connection capacity of at least 100 MW need a full environmental impact assessment, and those of at least 50 MW in protected areas of category D need case-by-case screening. The explanatory notes say the UVP-G currently has no data center category.
100 MW Installed connection capacity above which a new data center needs a full EIA (50 MW in category D areas)
Opposition motion 1004/A(E): EIA duty for large data centers and a national data center master plan
A resolution motion by Green MPs Lukas Hammer and Süleyman Zorba (14 Sep 2026) says data centers are not a separate permit category in the EIA Act and that phased build-outs avoid EIA thresholds, citing Kronstorf (150 MW first phase, up to 500 MW) which needed no EIA. It asks for a federal data center EIA category, assessment of grid impacts and waste heat use, and a national data center master plan. It has not been adopted.
Renewables Acceleration Act (EABG, BGBl. I Nr. 47/2026): overriding public interest for renewables, grid and storage
The Erneuerbaren-Ausbau-Beschleunigungsgesetz transposes the RED III permitting rules: renewables acceleration areas and an overriding public interest for renewable plants and the related grid and storage infrastructure. It was passed by the Nationalrat on 11 Jun 2026 and gazetted on 1 Jul 2026; its in-force date was not confirmed from the gazette.
APG grid development plan to 2035: EUR 9bn; data centers have registered about 2,500 MW of demand
Transmission operator APG presented its network development plan on 7 Apr 2026: about EUR 9bn of investment over ten years. Grid access requests of more than 10,000 MW from wind and solar projects are pending, and data centers have registered demand of about 2,500 MW.
2,500 MW Data center demand registered with APG
Vienna bid for an EU AI Gigafactory, co-signed by the federal government
On 18 Jun 2025 the Federal Chancellor, the Mayor of Vienna, the economy minister and others jointly signed Vienna's expression of interest to host an EU AI Gigafactory. The EU received 76 expressions of interest from 16 member states for 60 sites. No selection outcome for Vienna was found.
Timeline of data center and power policy in Austria
| Date | Action | Type | Status | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Oct 2026 | New grid tariff principles (SNE-G-V) from 2027: 50:50 energy/capacity split and cheaper flexible capacity | Power tariff | Announced | E-Control |
| 20 Sep 2026 | Draft EIA Act amendment 2026: mandatory EIA for new data centers of 100 MW or more (Z 19a) | Regulation | Proposed | Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management (BMLUK) |
| 14 Sep 2026 | Opposition motion 1004/A(E): EIA duty for large data centers and a national data center master plan | Other | Proposed | Nationalrat (opposition motion) |
| 1 Jul 2026 | Renewables Acceleration Act (EABG, BGBl. I Nr. 47/2026): overriding public interest for renewables, grid and storage | Renewable energy | Announced | Nationalrat; BMWET |
| 7 Apr 2026 | APG grid development plan to 2035: EUR 9bn; data centers have registered about 2,500 MW of demand | Grid access | Announced | Austrian Power Grid AG (APG, transmission system operator) |
| 1 Jan 2026 | Grid use tariffs 2026 (SNE-V 2018 Novelle 2026, BGBl. II Nr. 305/2025) | Power tariff | In force | Regulierungskommission der E-Control |
| 23 Dec 2025 | Electricity levy cut to 0.82 c/kWh for 2026 (BGBl. I Nr. 95/2025) | Power tariff | In force | Nationalrat; Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) |
| 23 Dec 2025 | ElWG §§99-103: published grid capacity, paid reservation, queue by permits and flexible access for loads | Grid access | In force | Nationalrat (ElWG); E-Control |
| 23 Dec 2025 | ElWG §97: network level set by connected load, more than 5 MW up to 200 MW at Netzebene 4 or 3 | Grid access | In force | Nationalrat (ElWG) |
| 23 Dec 2025 | New Electricity Act (ElWG, BGBl. I Nr. 91/2025) replaces ElWOG 2010 | Regulation | In force | Nationalrat; Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism (BMWET); regulator E-Control |
| 18 Jun 2025 | Vienna bid for an EU AI Gigafactory, co-signed by the federal government Vienna | Plan or strategy | Announced | Federal Chancellery; City of Vienna |
| 17 Apr 2024 | Energy Efficiency Act amendment (BGBl. I Nr. 29/2024): annual reporting for data centers of 500 kW IT or more | Efficiency rule | In force | Nationalrat; BMWET |
| 27 Jul 2021 | Renewable Expansion Act (EAG): 100% renewable electricity on a net basis by 2030 | Renewable energy | In force | Nationalrat (EAG, BGBl. I Nr. 150/2021); monitored by E-Control |
How Austria compares
Latest official figures for the countries we track.
| Country | Industrial power price | Renewable share | Grid emission factor | Restrictions in force | Incentives in force |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | — | 19.6% (2025) | 0.28 kgCO2/kWh (2022) | 0 | 2 |
| Australia | — | 39% (2025) | — | 0 | 2 |
| Austria | 169 USD/MWh (2026) | 78% (2025) | 0.15 kgCO2/kWh (2023) | 0 | 0 |
| Bangladesh | — | 2% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| Belgium | 183 USD/MWh (2025) | 34.3% (2025) | 0.19 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| Brazil | — | 86.8% (2025) | 0.07 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 1 |
| Canada | — | 63.9% (2024) | 0.10 kgCO2/kWh (2022) | 2 | 0 |
| Chile | — | 66% (2025) | 0.24 kgCO2/kWh (2023) | 0 | 0 |
| Colombia | — | — | 0.22 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 2 |
| Denmark | 134 USD/MWh (2025) | 81.5% (2024) | 0.11 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 1 | 0 |
| Ecuador | — | — | 0.16 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 1 | 0 |
| Finland | 58.4 USD/MWh (2025) | 57% (2024) | 0.03 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 0 |
| France | 104 USD/MWh (2025) | 27% (2025) | 0.02 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 1 |
| Germany | 180 USD/MWh (2025) | 58.8% (2025) | 0.34 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 1 | 0 |
| Guatemala | 84.5 USD/MWh (2025) | 53.5% (2024) | 0.29 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 2 |
| Hong Kong | 180 USD/MWh (2026) | — | 0.59 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 2 |
| India | 82.1 USD/MWh (2025) | 28.7% (2026) | 0.68 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 5 |
| Indonesia | 62.9 USD/MWh (2024) | 16.3% (2025) | 0.68 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 1 |
| Ireland | 234 USD/MWh (2025) | 41.3% (2024) | 0.20 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 2 | 0 |
| Italy | 184 USD/MWh (2025) | 48% (2025) | 0.20 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 0 |
| Japan | — | 23.1% (2024) | 0.45 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| Kazakhstan | — | 14.6% (2025) | 0.81 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 0 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 41.7 USD/MWh (2026) | 88% (2024) | 0.16 kgCO2/kWh (2019) | 1 | 1 |
| Luxembourg | 165 USD/MWh (2025) | 23.3% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| Malaysia | 105 USD/MWh (2026) | 21% (2025) | 0.74 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 1 | 1 |
| Mexico | — | — | 0.44 kgCO2/kWh (2023) | 0 | 0 |
| Nepal | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Netherlands | 148 USD/MWh (2025) | 49% (2025) | 0.20 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 4 | 0 |
| Pakistan | 97.5 USD/MWh (2026) | 34.7% (2025) | — | 0 | 1 |
| Panama | 66.3 USD/MWh (2025) | 74.7% (2025) | 0.15 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 1 |
| Paraguay | 33.0 USD/MWh (2026) | — | — | 1 | 2 |
| Peru | — | 62.6% (2025) | — | 0 | 1 |
| Russia | — | 17.6% (2025) | — | 2 | 0 |
| Singapore | 189 USD/MWh (2025) | 2.1% (2024) | 0.40 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| South Korea | — | 9.8% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| Spain | 113 USD/MWh (2025) | 55.5% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| Sri Lanka | — | 60.2% (2025) | — | 0 | 0 |
| Sweden | 78.5 USD/MWh (2025) | — | 0.06 kgCO2/kWh (2023) | 0 | 0 |
| Switzerland | 240 USD/MWh (2026) | 70.8% (2025) | 0.13 kgCO2/kWh (2022) | 0 | 0 |
| United Arab Emirates | 120 USD/MWh (2026) | 8.8% (2024) | 0.47 kgCO2/kWh (2024) | 0 | 0 |
| United Kingdom | 234 USD/MWh (2026) | 52.1% (2025) | 0.15 kgCO2/kWh (2026) | 1 | 1 |
| United States | 86.2 USD/MWh (2025) | 24% (2025) | 0.35 kgCO2/kWh (2023) | 0 | 1 |
| Uruguay | 101 USD/MWh (2026) | 98% (2025) | 0.01 kgCO2/kWh (2025) | 0 | 3 |
| Uzbekistan | 83.3 USD/MWh (2026) | 19.4% (2025) | — | 1 | 0 |
| Venezuela | — | 77% (2023) | — | 0 | 1 |
Questions
Is there a data center moratorium in Austria?
We have found no moratorium or restriction on new data centers in force in Austria as of 22 October 2026. Proposed or announced measures, if any, are listed in the timeline.
What does electricity cost for data centers in Austria?
The industrial electricity price in Austria was 169 USD/MWh in 2026 (Eurostat nrg_pc_205, non-household band IE (20,000-69,999 MWh/yr), 2026 S1, excluding VAT and recoverable taxes: EUR 0.1504/kWh = EUR 150.4/MWh x 1.1234 USD/EUR (ECB reference rate 21 Oct 2026) = USD 168.96/MWh. Excluding all taxes EUR 0.1355/kWh.). Data center contracts can differ by voltage level, contract length and location.
How much of Austria’s electricity is renewable?
Renewables supplied 78% of electricity generation in Austria in 2025.
Where does this data come from?
Each action comes from a page we opened: a law, regulation, gazette notice, ministry or regulator release, grid operator notice or investment agency page, and only when official text is not available a company or trade publication. A second analyst re-opens the source before an item is published. Government sources are linked on the page; all sources come with the Excel data.
What counts as a restriction or moratorium?
A government or grid operator rule that stops, pauses, caps or conditions new data center capacity or grid connections, for a country or a region within it. Proposals are shown as proposed until they take effect.
How are power prices compared?
We use each country’s official statistics for industrial or non-household electricity, converted to US dollars per MWh at the average rate for the year where needed, and show the year and source. Contract prices for data centers can differ.
How often is it updated?
Countries are reviewed on a rolling schedule and changes are added as they are announced. Each item shows the date of the action.
Global capacity
How much data center capacity is installed worldwide?
Installed and forecast capacity in MW by region and country, 2020 to 2035, with low, base and high cases. Updated every quarter.
Choosing a market or a site?
Our analysts prepare country briefings on power, grid access, incentives and permits, with every source, in Excel.