Corporate news: VERBUND results for quarters 1–2/2021

The Group turned in a very satisfactory business performance in quarters 1–2/2021. The energy market environment continued to improve apace, and particularly prices for European CO₂ emission rights, which are crucial for the switch from carbon-intensive coal-fired power generation to lower-carbon gas-fired power generation, and the prices for primary energy sources, which determine the wholesale price of electricity in Europe, increased significantly in the reporting period. The Group’s long-term positioning across all segments fits seamlessly with the energy sector’s increasingly ambitious decarbonisation goals within the EU and in Austria.

These positive developments in the energy market environment will greatly benefit VERBUND’s business model. VERBUND is ideally positioned in this environment as a hydropower producer with an increasing share of new renewables. Our strategy envisages that, in addition to hydropower, by 2030 a total of 20–25% of the electricity VERBUND generates will come from new renewable sources of energy in Europe. The Renewable Energy Development Act (Erneuerbaren-Ausbau-Gesetz, EAG), passed by the Austrian parliament in early July 2021, provides for extensive decarbonisation and climate neutrality by 2040 and thus creates the framework for achieving this ambitious goal. In addition to its activities relating to electricity and gas grids, which also need to be expanded on a large scale to achieve the ambitious climate targets, as well as in electricity trading and sales, VERBUND will move into new fields of application that will play an important role in the successful implementation of the energy transition over the coming years. Examples are the development of a green hydrogen system, the advancement of electromobility and the development of storage systems. VERBUND is thus making a vital contribution to the implementation of Austria’s climate strategy.

The results posted by VERBUND for quarters 1–2/2021 were very gratifying. EBITDA increased by 2.5% to €654.9m, and the Group result rose by 4.5% to €324.5m. The adjusted Group result increased by 4.7% to €315.2m. At 0.96, the hydro coefficient for the run-of-river power plants was 4 percentage points below the long-term average and 1 percentage point above the comparative prior-year figure. Generation from annual storage power plants fell by as much as 16.0% in quarters 1–2/2021 due to lower natural water inflows and reduced turbining. Generation from hydropower thus decreased by 430 GWh compared with the prior-year reporting period. However, the marked increase in wholesale electricity prices on the spot markets gave a boost to earnings – unlike futures market prices, which declined in the period under review. The average sales price obtained for our own generation from hydropower thus rose by €2.2/MWh to €46.6/MWh. The first-time consolidation of Gas Connect Austria GmbH also resulted in a positive contribution to earnings.

VERBUND’s share price stood at €77.7 as at 30 June 2021, an increase of 11.2%. The value of VERBUND based on market capitalisation was therefore €27.0bn at the end of quarter 2/2021. This positions the Group at the pinnacle of the ATX by a large margin and makes it one of the largest utilities in Europe – a clear signal that the capital market takes a positive view of the Group’s strategy and positioning.

Outlook for 2021 adjusted

Based on expectations of average own generation from hydropower and wind power in quarters 3–4/2021 and the opportunities and risks identified, VERBUND currently expects EBITDA of between around €1,310m and €1,410m and a Group result of between around €590m and €660m in financial year 2021. The planned payout ratio for 2021 is between 45% and 55% of the Group result of between around €580m and €650m, after adjustment for non-recurring effects.