Marie-Theres Thöni has been leading the Department of Renewable Energy Generation at Austria’s Federal Ministry of Energy since 2020. She played a key role in the technical development and coordination of the Renewable Deployment Act and the implementation of the EU Renewable Energy Directive in Austria. Her current focus lies in shaping the technical and economic framework conditions to accelerate renewable electricity generation, including the development and expansion of pumped storage and hydropower as key technologies for balancing and providing flexibilities.  

She holds a degree in Environmental and Bioresource Management from BOKU Vienna and Cornell University (NY), specialising in renewable energy, waste management, and circular economy. Her professional journey includes positions at an engineering firm, Oesterreichs Energie - the Austrian electricity industry association, and the Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism. She also completed an executive management program at TU Wien and Baruch College in New York.