Austria

Highlights in 2018
Highlights in 2018

 

Update on clean energy innovation policies and strategies

Climate and Energy Strategy #mission2030

In June 2018 the Climate and Energy Strategy #mission2030 was concluded by the Austrian government. It defines objectives and fields of action to follow a decarbonization path with target years 2030 and 2050 with the central goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the share of renewable energy. By 2030, Austria will reduce its CO2 emissions by 36% compared to 2005.

This will be achieved by increasing the share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption from 33.5 % (2018) to 45-50% by 2030. Austria has set itself the target of covering 100% of its total electricity consumption (national balance) from renewable energy sources in Austria by 2030. Today, around 72% of electricity already comes from renewable sources. To achieve this goal, investments in energy efficiency measures, as well as the expansion of renewable energy sources, infrastructure and storage facilities, are necessary. The transformation to efficient and climate-neutral energy, mobility and economic system must encompass the entire energy value chain (generation, transport, conversion and consumption), including all related products and services. Energy research and technology development play a key role in this far-reaching process.

To implement the Climate- and Energy Strategy two flagships, with respect to research and innovation were drafted, flagship 9 “Building blocks of the energy systems of the future and the flagship 10 “Programme Mission Innovation Austria”.

  • In Flagship 9 the programme activities of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT) and the Climate and Energy Fund (KLIEN) will be targeted on following mission-oriented focal areas: Plus Energy Areas, Integrated regional energy systems, Break-Through Technologies for Industry and Energy-efficient mobility systems of the future.
  • Flagship 10 will focus on the further development of the programme “Flagship Regions Austria”.

 

Energy Research Initiative Implementation Plan

BMVIT is currently working on an implementation plan for the national energy research initiative of #Mission2030. This implementation plan will concretize Flagships 9 and 10 of the National Climate and Energy Strategy. Four stakeholder groups in the field of Buildings and Urban Systems, Break-through Technologies for Industry, Energy Systems and Grids and Mobility Systems are developing innovation goals and innovation activities and measures. The outcome of this process will feed into further Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) planning procedures.


Major innovation initiatives in 2018/19

Launch of Flagship Region Energy (national)

  • In 2018 the 8-years Initiative was launched. It focuses on an efficient interaction of energy production, consumption, system management and storage. The programme combines research and development and demonstration funding instruments for the testing of integral solutions in real-time. 3 Regions have been selected: In the “Green Energy Lab”, part of Austria becomes a test region for the future energy system with a significantly great share of renewable energies. The focus is placed on more flexibility and digitalization of the energy system to support energy supply security. The purpose of “NEFI” (New Energy for Industry) is to show that 100% renewable energy supply of industrial sites is possible with energy technologies developed in Austria. The aim of “WIVA P&G” (hydrogen initiative) is to demonstrate the shift of the Austrian economy to an energy system which is largely based on hydrogen. The focus is on the production, storage, distribution and application of renewable hydrogen in the fields of energy supply, industry and mobility. In the first year, 21 projects were funded with more than €30 million inducing a total investment of €57 million.
  • A 14 min film describes the Flagship Region Energy (general Introduction and explanation of all 3 labs).

Transnational/International

  • The strategic research and innovation agenda of JPI Urban Europe has the goal, by coordinated city research and development to develop European solutions for sustainable, live-able and economically strong cities of tomorrow. Since 2012 8 transnational call for proposals has been performed in the network of 20 participating countries (total funding >€100 million). Austria is leading the Strategic Energy Technology Plan working group on “Smart Cities and Communities” and has started an activity for “100 European Plus-Energy quarters”.
  • The Joint Programming Platform ERA-NET Smart Energy Systems is an important instrument, to support transnational RDI cooperation in the field of energy systems. The platform contributes substantially to the Implementation plan of the Action 4 of the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan – “Increasing the resilience and security of the energy systems”. Austria is leading the joint programming platform, with 30 funding agencies from 23 countries. The goal is to initiate and fund concrete transnational RDI-projects in participating countries. Up to now 58 projects with more than €100 million were funded. Project consortia involve in total 225 project partners, 50 from business enterprises (60% SMEs).
  • International Energy Agency (IEA) research cooperation – Austria has funded 20 new participations in tasks and annexes with a total budget of €3 million. The Austrian Technology Collaboration Programmes (TCP) portfolio is consistent with national priorities. Austria participates in 88 of total 185 activities, 48 in the End-Use, 35 in the Renewables and 5 in Fossil Fuels. In 2018/2019 Austria has joined 3 TCPs – the Clean Energy Education and Empowerment C3E TCP, the Hydrogen TCP and the Energy Conservation through Energy Storage (ECES) TCP. Austria participates in 21 TCPs and one expert Group (EGRD).

Major activities in support of the Innovation Challenges in 2018/19

Initiation of Mission innovation Pilot Multilateral Call for cooperative RDI Projects. This initiative, led by Austria, will enable financing of multilateral cooperative RDI Projects from research and industry within the framework of MI. It is based on a well-established model and leveraging on the existing Joint Programming Platform Smart Energy Systems (JPP SES) with currently 30 public funding partners from 23 European countries. The funding mechanism and the topic of storage system and storage integration were presented to MI Innovation Challenges IC1, IC6, IC7 and IC8. MI Innovation Challenges have two important roles to play in the MICall19:

  • To comment on call focus and requested research areas
  • As matchmaking platforms to start project consortia together with industry partners

Collaboration with the Innovation Challenges

  • IC1 Workshop in Rome, November 2018: Presentation of MI Multilateral Pilot Joint call and discussion on opportunities for IC1
  • IC7: Austria is joining the Comfort Climate Box (International Energy Agency Annex Energy Conservation through Energy Storage/Heat Pumping Technologies) in collaboration with IC7
  • IC8: Austria participated in a meeting of IC8 and contributed to the workplan
  • IC7 and IC8: invitation to support the pilot joint call (telephone calls)
  • IC6: Presentation of the MI Pilot Multilateral Call at IC6 Workshop in India, New Delhi, February 2019
  • Austria participated in a Hydrogen Ministerial Meeting October 2018 initiated by Japan

Other Mission Innovation related activity in 2018/19

Mission Innovation Week Austria: In the first “Mission Innovation Austria Week 2019“ (Stegersbach and Oberwart, south of Vienna May 2019), current developments will be presented and discussed in a series of parallel events. Topics such as PV self-consumption, local energy communities and municipal contributions to energy system transformation will highlight the role of local practices and scope for action. In workshops and pitches, the innovative power and chances of success of start-ups as well as the recipes for success of scale-ups will be outlined. In deep dive sessions, experts will present the state of the art and discuss energy future issues with participants in small groups. The rapidly advancing artificial intelligence research and its application possibilities in the energy sector will be addressed, as well as blockchain technology, 5G and future telecommunication standards. Furthermore, innovation activities for renewable hydrogen or the system integration of electromobility will be addressed. In the course of the conference, high-level speakers will shed light on the Austrian innovation landscape and the role of international research cooperation. The Mission Innovation Austria Week will provide the possibility for the innovation Challenges to present themselves to the Austrian stakeholders from industry and research as well as to network among the different innovation Challenges.

Private Sector Engagement: Mission Innovation Austria board: The private sector has been involved in Austrian MI activities from the beginning. In preparation for joining MI, Austria has established a national governance structure, ensuring a broad involvement of Austrian industry and RDI stakeholders. Key element is an Advisory Board (Mission Innovation Austria Beirat) made up of industry representatives and international energy experts who provide strategic advice to the Technology minister. The advisory board meets twice


New collaborations

IEA Research Cooperation Call 2018
Approx. 40 IEA and partner countries
Funding of collaborations in Tasks and Annexes and Executive Committees of IEA Technology Collaborations Programmes, research & development, dissemination and networking.
Sectors: public-public
Type of collaboration: research
Start date: 2018
End date:
2021
Funding amount: 
2.8 M€
Find out more

ERA-NET Smart Energy Systems Call 2018 – Integrated regional Energy Systems
23 European Countries including MI members: Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden
A transnational joint programming platform to initiate co-creation and promote energy system innovation.
Sectors: public-public
Type of collaboration: research, development and demonstration
Duration: 2018-2021
Funding amount: 
6 M€
Find out more

JPI Urban Europe Call 2018 – Sustainable and Liveable Cities and Urban Areas
14 European countries including MI Members: Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, UK
JPI Urban Europe was created in 2010 to address the global urban challenges of today with the ambition to develop a European research and innovation hub on urban matters and create European solutions by means of coordinated research.
Sectors: public-public
Type of collaboration: research, development and demonstration
Duration: 2018-2021
Funding amount: 
2.5 M€
Find out more

ERA-NET Bioenergy
Seven European countries including MI members: Austria, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden
A transnational cooperation of programme owners and programme managers in the area of bioenergy R&D.
Sectors: public-private
Type of collaboration: research, development
Duration: 2018 to 2022
Funding amount:
1 M€
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SOLAR-ERA.NET Cofund 2
18 European Countries and Regions including MI members: Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, UK
A European network of national and regional funding organisations in the field of solar electricity generational.
Sectors: public-public
Type of collaboration: research, development
Duration: 2018 to 2022
Funding amount:
1 M€
Find out more