Integrating renewable energies into our energy supply in a stable and economical way is one of the biggest challenges on the way to a climate-friendly future. In order to make this possible together, the Waldviertel is now operating one of six real-world laboratories across Austria to establish a stable, affordable and 100% renewable energy supply from the regions. The timetable for this 100% renewable energy Waldviertel real-world laboratory based in Großschönau was set today as part of the kick-off event.
The Waldviertel Reallabor has set itself the goal of showing how 100% renewable energy supply can be achieved in rural areas. To achieve this, a variety of widely distributed units must be coordinated and different energy sources must be combined. The requirements for sustainable energy supply are different and complex – between town and country, agriculture and industry, wind, sun and biomass. That’s why we have to quickly develop solutions that enable optimally integrated and maximum use of renewable energies. The joint, coordinated use of regional opportunities creates small-scale solutions that work together flexibly and enable a stable, regional energy supply in order to become climate neutral by 2035.
The Walviertel with its 99 communities and 228,000 residents is taking on the challenge of saying goodbye to fossil fuels. The innovative concept for the development and validation of system solutions, particularly in the areas of electricity, heat and mobility, was able to convince an international jury of the overall project “Reallabor 100% EE Waldviertel”. For the start-up phase of this project, 4.6 million euros in federal funds were pledged as part of the “100% Renewable Energy” real-world laboratory initiative of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology.
True to the motto “Real life is the best test,” new solutions are developed and optimized in a needs-oriented manner under real conditions: very close to the users, in collaboration with research and companies. This chain of effects promotes regional competence and knowledge development and leads to the coordinated and efficient use of technological resources and technical expertise. 22 project partners from science, the energy sector, the mobility sector, automation and inclusion & training work together in the Waldviertel real-world laboratory to enable a 100% renewable energy supply: at any time, on any day, all year round.
Statements:
Leonore Gewessler, Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology:
“The Reallabore initiative brings people, research & development, companies and politics together to build a 100% renewable energy supply. Together, innovative solutions are developed in the real world, which become a template for everyone. As a region, the Waldviertel is perfect for developing system solutions that are tailored to needs and supported by the population. What is being researched and developed here should also be able to be implemented in other regions of Austria in the future. I look forward to helping to phase out fossil fuels and wish everyone involved much success.”
Stephan Pernkopf, LH deputy for energy, science and agriculture:
“We can be proud to have another energy showcase project in Lower Austria! Making the best possible use of regional resources and generating affordable energy ourselves, contributing to security of supply and creating price stability: this is good for the environment, good for our economy and good for people. Since 2015, 100 percent of Lower Austria’s electricity needs have been produced from renewable energy. The federal government has set itself this target for 2030, which means we are 15 years ahead. Climate protection doesn’t need bans, but rather innovation, brainpower and drive. This is how Lower Austria works! We want to further expand this lead, and in the Waldviertel it is now not just about electricity, but about the entire energy requirement, including heating energy and mobility. What will be particularly important in this project will be how battery and storage solutions can be tested, integrated and rolled out, because that is the exciting question of the future.”