Tourism is one of the most important sectors of the economy in rural parts of Austria. It also accounts for a significant amount of energy consumption, particularly during the winter season. As an area that depends on Alpine tourism, the Pinzgau – including the municipality of Zell am See – is facing major challenges. Although a large number of individual projects and initiatives are already under way in the region, it needs a common strategy to make its vision of a 100% renewable energy supply a reality.
 
The exploratory study devised solutions for transformation processes in three areas of innovation – sector integration, energy communities and sustainable heating – in partnership with all the relevant stakeholders.
 
The numerous ideas put forward were condensed into 14 real-life tests for sustainable tourism in the Pinzgau in order to enable 100% renewable energy to be used to get guests to and from the region, power their accommodation and leisure activities, and much more besides. These real-life tests are broad-based and cover everything from innovative energy and mobility solutions through to awareness-raising measures for locals and tourists. The organisational structure of the living laboratory and suitable business models were also devised. In the future, the model solutions developed for the Pinzgau region are to serve as a blueprint for other similar parts of Austria and help to spread climate-friendly solutions and get them implemented quickly.