ÖBB Annual Report 2023

113 Group Management Report Österreichische Bundesbahnen-Holding Aktiengesellschaft Consolidated Financial Statements | Group Management Report 68 Freight transport – Logistics chain: designing solutions for the entire logistics chain. – Optimise availabilities and provide sufficient capacities – Simplify access to the rail system in freight transport as well ÖBB is taking a step-by-step approach to decarbonisation in the following three areas: Mobility, buildings and Scope 3 emissions (decarbonisation pathways). Mobility sector Mobility services by train and bus are ÖBB’s core business. They are the central focus of the climate change mitigation strategy. The aim is to reduce GHG emissions from the energy sources used for rail and bus transport in particular to such an extent that climate neutrality is achievable in this area by 2030. The end of the natural life of individual vehicle types, which are replaced by modern and low-emission vehicles, is also to be taken into account here. Whether a transition phase is necessary for individual vehicle types for use beyond 2030 will be examined in the course of the assessment/update of the decarbonisation pathway mobility in the coming years. Implementation takes place with six strategic approaches in the mobility sector. The electrification of the ÖBB rail network is to be increased to 85% by 2030 and 89% by 2035 by means of a multi-stage electrification plan. This applies provided technological development from a system perspective is not such that the use of alternative drive technologies leads to greater economic efficiency on these routes. This applies provided technological development from a system perspective is not such that the use of alternative drive technologies leads to greater economic efficiency on these routes. Over 90% of ÖBB rail transport services are currently already performed with electric traction on the electrified routes of the ÖBB network. The current diesel fleet is to be gradually replaced by vehicles with alternative drive technologies on secondary routes and shunting areas where electrification is not feasible for economic reasons. Also off-rail, ÖBB wants to switch to alternative drive systems both in internal transport and in the bus sector. The conversion of the bus fleet of Österreichische Postbus AG in particular requires coordination with the clients of the transport services (service providers). The switch to traction current from renewable sources in 2018 marked a significant milestone in the strategic approach towards renewable energy. The switch to electricity from renewable energy sources for three-phase current for operating facilities such as buildings, workshops and point heating systems took place in 2019. Electricity from renewable sources is the central pillar of the railway’s climate friendliness. The cost of renewable energies is however expected to rise further, which is the reason for the ÖBB Group’s focus on increasing its in-house supply of traction current from renewable energy sources (solar, wind, water, etc.). The greatest cost and CO 2 savings, however, come from energy that is not consumed. The focus of energy efficiency in the ÖBB Group is on optimising the operational management of trains and on the more efficient use of electricity and diesel. The sixth and final strategic approach in the mobility sector is to expedite an increase in the utilisation of transport capacity. The focus here is on more intelligent or more efficient utilisation of the vehicle fleet in order to transport a greater number of passengers and goods in trains and buses. The optimal utilisation of the transport vehicles using the required forms of energy is an essential measure for making transport climate-friendly. The list of potential reduction measures was evaluated in detail in the annually updated decarbonisation pathway for the mobility sector in the reporting year and secured with sufficient budgetary resources for the coming years. The order for 16 electrically powered Cityjet battery-electric trains, which are to be deployed from 2028, and the plan to procure e- hybrid locomotives for shunting are some of the highlights from the mobility sector in 2023. Specified measures up to 2030 (as of June 2023) show initial savings plans amounting to approx. 34,000 tonnes of CO 2 eq emissions. This figure is based on CO 2 eq emissions of approx. 222,000 tonnes from the base year 2019. This is particularly evident in the area of transport within the company. It achieves an approx. 52% decrease in GHG emissions, which is the best result – based on the current status of the mobility decarbonisation pathway. In total, the current portfolio of measures results in a reduction of GHG emissions by 15%. These defined reduction measures are not yet sufficient for a (realistically affordable) decarbonisation of the mobility sector in 2030 (= zero CO 2 after compensation). Further reduction measures are therefore necessary. The given framework conditions in the mobility sector mean that a final assessment needs to be made in 2024 as to whether and under what conditions the goal of climate neutrality by 2030 appears realistic. The ÖBB rail sector is currently closer to achieving decarbonisation by 2030 than the bus sector, which, however, has a more difficult starting situation to overcome. Vehicles in the bus sector are procured in accordance with the specifications of the service providers, most of which continue to require diesel buses. In principle, the decarbonisation pathway for mobility is evaluated annually and supplemented with new measures. These measures also benefit the klimaaktiv campaign of the Ministry for Climate Action (BMK), in which ÖBB and ten other large companies have participated since 2021. The common goal is to at least halve CO 2 emissions by 2030 – compared to 2005. MR68 |