On September 6, 2023, Federal Minister Leonore Gewessler opened the annual event of the “Vorzeigeregion Energie” with the title “Energy Innovations Made in Austria – Opportunities for Austrian Companies on the World Market”.
In the speeches of the Minister and of Climate and Energy Fund Managing Director Bernd Vogl, the successes of the research funding program “Vorzeigeregion Energie” were honored. The flagship project ThermaFLEX was recognized as an outstanding example: AEE INTEC was head of the large-scale research project implemented in the frame of the Green Energy Lab showcase region which won the Energy Globe Award Austria (Fire category) in June 2023 for its contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions of the district heating sector.
The project with 28 partners in Styria, Vienna and Salzburg used ten large-scale demonstrators to showcase that large-scale technical implementations are possible in a relatively short time. As soon as all demonstration plants of the ThermaFLEX project have been fully implemented, up to 45,000 tons of carbon dioxide can be saved each year. In addition to this direct contribution to climate protection, the elements and solutions developed will also serve as a blueprint for other national and international heating networks.
The lead project ThermaFLEX was funded by the Climate and Energy Fund and carried out in the frame of the Green Energy Lab which is part of the “Vorzeigeregion Energie” program.