Baptism Donau 1: Sustainability and Innovation at the Danube power plant!

Baptism Donau 1: Sustainability and Innovation at the Danube power plant!

On June 24, 2025, the new "Donau 1" work ship was certed in the apprenticeship home of the Ybbs-Persenbeug. Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner took on the role of the godmother and emphasized that the baptism of ships is not only technical progress, but also an important symbolism for innovation, sustainability and the energy transition. This initiative of the network, one of the leading providers in the area of ​​renewable energies, includes the operation of four large hydropower plants, six wind farms and five large photovoltaic systems in Lower Austria, in which around 230 employees work, including more than 30 apprentices.

mikl-Leitner emphasized the partnership with the network and described "Donau 1" as a multi-talent and considerable investment in the future. The new ship replaces four old ships and thus actively contributes to CO₂ reduction. Coo Achim Kaspar points out that the apprentice home can also be seen as a commitment to the future. In the future, "Donau 1" will also be equipped with batteries to make part of the company electrically designed. The importance of the Danube for electricity generation in Austria was also clearly underlined.

meaning of renewable energies

The baptism of the ship is part of a larger context that emphasizes the urgency of the transition to renewable energies. Fossil fuels cause high CO₂ emissions, air pollution and absorption, while renewable energies such as solar and wind energy as well as biomass are regarded as environmentally friendly alternatives. These not only offer the possibility of CO₂ reduction, but also an improvement in air quality and greater energy independence. Over 70 % of global warming are due to energy consumption, which illustrates the need for an energy transition. According to the IPCC, this turn is crucial to limit global warming to 1.5 ° C.

Austria's energy system is constantly changing. In 2023, around 41 % of energy comes from renewable sources, mainly from hydropower and biomass. The aim is to increase the proportion of renewable energies to at least 57 % by 2030. However, a large part of the energy supply is currently based on fossil fuels, which are mainly imported. Austria is aiming for climate neutrality by 2040, which requires almost 100 % renewable energies.

innovations for a sustainable future

In the current discussion about sustainable energy, intelligent technologies play a central role. The increased use of heat pumps and biomass heating is becoming increasingly important, especially in the context of renovations. The turnover in the heat pump market has achieved a value of 1.480 million euros and created numerous jobs. Photovoltaics also experienced a boom in 2024 with an increase in the installed performance by 36 %. In addition, the storage capacity for solar energy was increased by more than 70 %, which makes the use of renewable energies even more efficient.

The introduction of the new "Donau 1" work ship stands as an example of the innovative strength in the field of renewable energies. Events such as shipping not only bring together stakeholders, but also illustrate the progress that the industry makes in the direction of a more sustainable and low -emission future. During the ceremony, the Musikverein Säusenstein maintained the guests, including employees, apprentices as well as local political representatives and fire brigade commanders.