ÖBB Annual Report 2023

Group Management Report 114 Österreichische Bundesbahnen-Holding Aktiengesellschaft Consolidated Financial Statements | Group Management Report 69 Highlights 2023 In 2023, ÖBB ordered 16 Cityjet battery-electric trains from Stadler Bussnang AG. As a result, the new train sets provide further growth in the local and regional transport fleet. The new train sets are projected to be operating along the Kamptal railway in Lower Austria from 2028. The battery-electric trains are a milestone towards the decarbonisation of regional rail transport. The battery-electric trains can be used on both electrified and non-electrified routes. The use of battery- electric trains enables over one million litres of diesel to be saved per year. This corresponds to CO 2 emissions of more than 3,000 tonnes. For comparison: this is the annual amount of CO 2 emissions caused by approx. 500 people in Austria. The services with alternative drive systems in the southern Weinviertel region (11 e-buses) and in Villach (H2 buses), launched in 2022, have successfully entered regular operation. In addition, test operations for the use of electric buses took place in Serfaus (Tyrol) in summer 2023. These have been very promising, with the result that a switch to alternative drive systems, including commissioning, is planned for summer 2024. A test run was also successfully completed on the city line 504 in Innsbruck. A switch to zero-emission vehicles is also expected here in 2024. The transport associations are now gradually putting (smaller) transport services out to tender for vehicles with alternative drive systems – e.g. Amstetten city bus, Kristallweltenbus. The tender launched in 2022 for the procurement of new eHybrid shunting locomotives, will also contribute to the switch to alternative drive systems in the “last mile” of rail transport. Investments have also been made in the expansion of renewable energies in recent years. As a result, the world’s first prototype of a 16.7 Hz wind turbine with approx. 3 MW went into operation in autumn 2022. The annual production of approx. 6.75 GWh is fed directly into the overhead line of the Eastern Railway (Vienna – Budapest). The expansion programme in the area of photovoltaic systems was systematically continued. In addition to the 68 existing systems with an annual electricity production of over 12,500 MWh, 24 50-Hz photovoltaic systems with a standard energy capacity of over 2,800 MWh were installed in 2023. This has resulted in ÖBB already operating 92 photovoltaic systems throughout Austria as of 2023. In June 2023, ÖBB presented its new energy strategy. Ambitious goal by 2030: To increase the in-house supply of traction current with partners from 60% to 80% and in operating facilities from 11% to 67% by expanding and modernising our own hydroelectric, solar and wind power plants. In total, this means an increase of approx. 800 GWh of in-house supply – in addition to the present 970 GWh. In addition, internal energy efficiency is to be increased by 25%, for example by modernising the traction current network or optimising buildings. ÖBB is to invest approx. EUR 1.6 billion in the coming years to realise the aims of the energy strategy. Above all, this should also help to make the Group more independent in the energy sector – as security of supply and cushioning against inflation are the clear objectives. 2023 was not an easy year, especially in the energy sector, as the energy crisis and the resulting price increases also affected ÖBB. This makes it all the more important to use this valuable resource efficiently and save energy wherever possible. Besides the medium and long-term focus priorities of ÖBB’s energy efficiency programme, various measures to reduce energy consumption were accelerated at all locations from September 2022, taking into account quality and safety standards. Examples of this include reducing the room temperature in offices and workshops as well as the heating temperature in trains and buses and much more. These were accompanied by an ÖBB-internal awareness-raising campaign, which continued in early 2023. In addition to this, ÖBB has also prepared itself for possible energy steering measures by the federal government. The refrigerant losses of rail vehicles for passenger transport have been measured in more detail since 2023 to ensure more efficient use of refrigerants in the long term. The medium and long-term goal is to improve data transparency in the rail sector (allocation of GHG emissions to affected areas) and, as a result, to implement more targeted measures to reduce refrigerant losses. An emissions information service for customers has been offered by the Rail Cargo Group since 2023. This emissions information and the calculation process are subject to ongoing review by an external body. This means that the emissions report provides reliable figures for customers’ Scope 3 emissions and supports the selection of sustainable logistics partners. The emissions report is prepared in accordance with current standards. The requisite calculations are performed by EcoTransIT-World on the basis of production-, relation- and single consignment-specific parameters of the Rail Cargo Group and its partners as well as using market-specific and/or country-specific energy mixes in comparison to a truck of class EURO 6 up to 40 tonnes total weight. EcoTransIT-World therefore uses this to identify the environmental impact of freight transport in terms of energy consumption and the specific resulting emissions. It is available without guarantee for submission to emissions trading platforms for participation in the voluntary market. | MR69