„Climate Protection Made in Austria “: Investing in the energy future

On 29 September, the Climate and Energy Fund organised the annual event of the FTI initiative under the motto “Innovations for Climate Protection”. The three showcase regions Green Energy Lab (GEL), New Energy for Industry (NEFI) and the Hydrogen initiative showcase region Austria Power & Gas (WIVA P&G) resented the progress made in various individual projects to some 40 invited guests at the Linz Ars Electronica Center. In addition, more than 100 people followed the presentations and discussions online.

The NEFI expert team presented some of their projects: Gerald Steinmaurer (FH OÖ) presented Indugrid, Markus Haider (TU Wien) talked about Gmunden High Temperature Heat Link R&D. Johannes Dock (Montanuniversität Leoben) and Daniel Janz (Breitenfeld Edelstahl) presented the project OxySteel.

In the talk on climate neutrality 2040, the three network coordinators Wolfgang Hribernik (NEFI), Horst Steinmüller (WIVA P&G) and Mathias Schaffer (GEL, representing Raphaela Reinfeld) discussed on the current positive developments in the flagship regions and the hope for an early approval of new additional research projects. Time is pressing: to achieve the ambitious climate targets, the development of new technologies and their testing in the field must take place in real time. The model regions are an excellent instrument to implement this.

A special highlight was the visit and the impulse statement by Federal Minister Leonore Gewessler and her announcement that she intends to support the programme financially with an additional 24.5 million euros this year as part of the economic stimulus package. The final panel discussion with, among others, high-ranking representatives from the economy and state politics concluded the annual event.

Link to the OTS-Press release

Examples of projects from the energy flagship regions

InduGrid-Industrial Microgrids

The exchange of energy between companies creates new opportunities for CO₂ reduction and improves the competitiveness of industrial companies. In the framework of ‘InduGrid’ an energy exchange platform is developed that maps technical, economical and legal conditions and implements and validates them at three industrial energy communities with different focal points.

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Green Energy Lab: Blockchain Grid

The project investigates how the grid feed-in of decentrally generated electricity from renewable energy sources can be optimally implemented through the flexible use of free grid capacities. Blockchain technology is used for this purpose. The aim is to enable “prosumers” to actively participate in the energy system and to autonomously share free grid resources.

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WIVA: HYTECHBASIS 4 WIVA

Hydrogen is the hope for the future on the way to climate neutrality. The aim of the project is to significantly improve the current state of the art in PEM fuel cells and electrolysis systems and to increase the degree of industrialisation of the technology.

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