Sandbox

Within a set space, the living laboratory is designed to create a set of circumstances (real-world environment) that very closely reflects the situation to be encountered in the energy system of the future and that enables the desired scenario – an energy supply from 100% renewable sources – to be anticipated in model form.

Validation

This chiefly concerns how infrastructure, plants and stakeholders interact to open up new opportunities for improved efficiency, flexibility, sector integration, resilience, etc. The validation, monitoring and real-life testing of technologies and components must always be viewed in the context of the system solution(s) being targeted.

Modell of good practice

The living laboratory is a place where insights are gained into various prototypical cha-racteristics of an integrated energy system in order to come up with solutions that can serve as models for similar regions in Austria.

Insights and instruments

Within the living laboratory, the underlying principles and tools required for planning, creating and operating integrated regional energy systems (including energy communities) are devised.

Knowledge and communication platform

Empirical knowledge about the transformation is gathered for all relevant target groups (advisory services, infrastructure operators, decision-makers at local authorities and companies, new stakeholders such as energy communities, and technology and solution providers).

Data management

Living laboratories require a systematic approach to solve major challenges in their chosen field as well as a plan for how they are going to manage their data.