Reallabor 100% renewable energy Waldviertel

The upper Waldviertel (Gmünd, Zwettl, Waidhofen/Thaya, Krems and Horn) with its 110 municipalities has played a pioneering role in the field of renewable energy for many years, which is why the location was ideally suited for the implementation of the "Sondierung Reallabor 100% Erneuerbares Waldviertel" project. The aim of the project was to develop a set ofmeasures as well as an implementation guideline for 100% renewable energy laboratory. This included the following analysis steps:

• Establishment of an inventory of the value chains, ecosystems, energetic actual situation, enablers, multipliers,... as well as a requirement analysis in the region
• Development of the basis for a catalogue of measures to achieve the vision of 100%  renewable energy in the Reallabor by 2030 in the overall project to be submitted subsequently.
• Evaluation of initial concepts and business models with the involvement of the population and the regional advisory board initiated in the project
• Development of a strategy for the operation of the Waldviertel laboratory (implementation roadmap), including an initial assessment of the economic framework and the evaluation of follow-up financing forms in the future laboratory.

This was done against the background of (i) improving the economic efficiency of renewable generation technologies and thus pushing their expansion in the region, (ii) strengthening biomass and local heating suppliers thereby contributing to the heat transition, and (iii) making consumption and generation more flexible by means of sector coupling and pushing the joint use of storage facilities.

The project "Sondierung Reallabor 100% Erneuerbares Waldviertel" thusmade a significant contribution to the path towards an exclusively renewable energy future in a region that is representative for Austria and has high scaling potential. The survey of potentials and possible measures was carried out together with the local stakeholders, companies and institutions. Together, sustainable solutions for a secure and climate-neutral energy system were researched, developed and tested for practicality. The results were summarized in a content-related and economic implementation concept (including a catalogue of measures, concepts and business models as well as an operating strategy for the operation of the Reallabor Waldviertel).

In detail, the potential and feasibility study found that although the share of renewable energy (RES) in total energy consumption in the region is already above the national average (41 % compared to 33,4 % national), substantial efforts are needed in the areas ofmobility, diversified renewable supply (especially wind energy) and measures regarding smart sector coupling. Furthermore, (mainly forestry) biomass represents a high potential in the region. While 190.00 ha of the area is forested, only 48% of the annual net increase is used. The solar energy supply (thermal/PV) is also clearly expandable with 93 GWh (Sonnenplatz-Großschönau, 2020). 

In addition, measures to integrate existing renewable energy supply infrastructure into local and regional consumption structures were investigated. These include first and foremost "renewable energy communities", which were investigated in detail during the course of the project and the initiation of which was encouraged in the region. The same applies to the thematic focus on electric mobility, which will have great potential in individual motorized transport for rural regions such as the Waldviertel.

Summarizing, the exploratory project showed that the existing structures (e.g. KEMs, KLARs, Leader, Verein Interkom,...) and infrastructures (e.g. hardware and software solutions from research projects) in the region, a committed population and the number of renewable generation plants in the region (PV, biomass,...), which is above the Austrian average, represent an excellent starting situation for the implementation of a real laboratory. This is especially true since the situation and framework conditions are such that they will only emerge in large parts of Austria in the next few years (e.g. high PV density,...). This offers the opportunity to develop concepts and business models in a representative manner that can be implemented throughout Austria in 2-3 years and can thus be multiplied.

Project management

EVN AG

Project or cooperation partners

• EPOOL – Experten Pool für Energietechnik, -wirtschaft und –recht
• FH Technikum Wien
• Sonnenplatz Großschönau GmbH

innovation, sustainability and environmental protection
EVN Group
EVN AG
DI(FH) Martin Holper, MSc.
EVN Platz
A-2344 Maria Enzersdorf
Tel.: + 43 (2236) 200-12291
E-mail: martin.holper@evn.at
Web: www.evn.at