IEA ES Task 43 – Standardized use of building mass as storage for renewable energies and grid flexibility
The building sector is a major lever for the energy transition, as a substantial share of final energy demand is still supplied by fossil fuels. Renewable energy can replace this supply, but its availability often does not match demand. Without suitable storage solutions, opportunities for decarbonisation and grid stability remain unused. Thermally activated building systems […]
SPuRM – Storage Potential of Underground Rock Mass
One of the central challenges of the energy transition is to overcome the imbalance between the generation of renewable thermal energy and its consumption. Specifically, high surplus thermal energy is generated in the summer through solar thermal systems and industrial waste heat, while the largest heat demand only occurs in the winter. To prevent the […]
Future Heat Highway – Supra-regional district heating networks for industrial waste heat integration
According to EU requirements, from 2050 onwards, all heat supplied through district heating networks must derive from renewable energy sources or industrial waste heat. Supra-regional district heating transmission pipelines can play a crucial role in reaching this objective: they connect industrial waste heat and other sustainable sources with existing and future district heating networks, industrial […]
ATESREF – Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage and re-injection using the Example of Fürstenfeld
To advance the complete decarbonization of the heating sector, bridging the temporal discrepancy between the often-fluctuating heat supply from renewable sources (e.g., solar thermal energy) and the high winter demand is essential. Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) offers an innovative and high-performance solution for the challenge of such energy storage. In this process, excess thermal […]
CFS-Audit – Circular Food System Audit
In der Lebensmittelindustrie fallen große Mengen an nicht vermeidbaren Lebensmittelreststoffen an, die bislang nur teilweise genutzt werden. Diese vielfältigen biogenen Nebenprodukte – von Obst- und Gemüseschalen über Molke und Biertreber bis zu Backwaren- und Ölrückständen – enthalten wertvolle Inhaltsstoffe wie beispielsweise Proteine, die ein regionales verfügbares Potenzial für die Kreislaufwirtschaft darstellen. Gleichzeitig erschweren oftmals stark […]
HP-SUBSCRIBE – Up-scaling High-Quality Heat Pump Installations in Leased Buildings via a Subscription Model and Cost-Effective Market Incentives
HP-SUBSCRIBE is an EU-funded LIFE project that aims to scale up the deployment of high-performance heat pumps in commercial and public buildings through an innovative Heat Pumps on Subscription (HPoS) model. This approach addresses key barriers such as the landlord-tenant split incentive, high upfront costs, and the complexity of replacing fossil-fuel systems. The project will […]
Energy4Bakery – The energy-efficient SME bakery of the future
The manufacturing sector accounts for roughly one third of Austria’s total energy consumption. Around 2,100 Austrian bakeries and confectioneries contribute significantly to this, as both cooling and baking are highly energy-intensive processes. To achieve the national goal of climate neutrality by 2040, innovative solutions are urgently needed. Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in industry […]
Components for Thermal Energy Storage – IEA SHC Task74 Components for Thermal Energy Storage.
Thermal energy storage technologies play a pivotal role in switching from a fossil fuels-based energy system to a fully renewable energy system. They provide flexibility in the system when supply and demand are not in sync, they enable a larger uptake of variable renewable sources like solar energy, they maximize waste heat re-utilization in industry, […]
IEA IETS Task 18: Digitalisierung, KI und verwandte Technologien für industrielle Energieeffizienz und THG Emissionsreduktion
This Task aims to advance digitalization, AI, and related technologies to improve economic and environmental performance in energy- and GHG-intensive process industries. It will build an international network of academia, research labs, IT providers, and industry stakeholders to enhance data availability, align capabilities, and support informed decision-making. The goal is to drive adoption of digital […]
Q4REN – Qualification Network for Energy Systems Powered by 100% Renewable Energy Sources
There are currently six real-world laboratories (“Reallabore”) in Austria that develop, test and showcase innovative solutions for integrated regional energy systems. By closely involving decision-makers, companies and citizens, they act as regional catalysts for the energy transition. To fully leverage their innovation potential, more companies – particularly small and medium-sized enterprises – need to be […]