The Green Energy Lab is a research initiative for sustainable energy solutions and part of the Austrian “Flagship Region Energy” innovation campaign being run by the Climate and Energy Fund. More than 200 partners from science, business and the public sector are taking part. They are working together with energy providers from four states – Wien Energie, EVN, Energie Burgenland and Energie Steiermark – to develop solutions that are geared towards customers, based on actual requirements and scalable, from the prototype phase through to market readiness. The aim is to showcase a joint demonstration of an integrated energy system running on 100% renewable energy. A total of EUR 150 million is to be invested in innovative projects as part of the Green Energy Lab by 2025.
 
The region involved (Vienna, Lower Austria, Burgenland and Styria) offers ideal conditions for developing and trialling new energy solutions: it is home to 5 million inhabitants, presents a marked contrast between its urban and rural areas, and already generates by far the highest percentage of Austria’s renewable energy (98% of its wind power and 64% of its PV). Direct access to the energy providers’ core market allows new developments to be tested out here on a large scale.
 
Key priorities in terms of developing and delivering innovations include getting the relevant stakeholders and users participating from an early stage, devising new business models, transferring knowledge, networking, and communicating project results to a wide audience.
greenenergylab.at

>>> In this issue, we take a look at some current projects that are being implemented in Austria as part of the Green Energy Lab research initiative.