TANZ - Exploration of a regional living lab: Tourism as an opportunity for the energy transition in Pinzgau

Status

completed (July 2022)

Motivation, contents and results

The tourism sector is one of the most important economic sectors in rural areas in Austria, but at the same time it's one with high energy consumption, especially in the winter time. Only tourism regions that react to this in a particularly large degree can ensure long-term success and thus preserve the existence of those people and businesses in the region who live and depend directly and indirectly on tourism. As an alpine tourism region, which scores above all with unique and original nature experiences, the Pinzgau (congruent with the district of Zell am See) is also facing challenges of climate change. Despite various individual measures, the region has so far lacked an overall strategy to achieve the national and regional goals for 100% renewable electricity and heat supply. Partial solutions have already been developed in the preliminary projects "VorTeil - model region tourism - living energy technologies & innovations!", "CE4T - Clean Energy for Tourism" and "100% renewable Pinzgau". Therefore, a regional living lab is to be set up for the Pinzgau as a year-round sustainable tourism region that will be supplied with 100% renewable energy. 

Pinzgau tourism should serve as a model region for others by establishing innovative energy and mobility technologies. The living lab should offer ideal conditions for a timely and effective implementation of projects that enable a 100% renewable tourism region. Above all, stakeholder dialogues were chosen as the methodology of the exploratory project. Due to the strong involvement of cable car operators, municipalities, regional and pan-regional actors, the main topics of the exploratory project could be selected in a target-oriented manner. Proposals for real tests (prototypical solutions that are tested in reality) were also discussed in further workshops and checked for their relevance. 

The main result was the definition of the target "100% renewable for and with tourists" and the presentation of how this target can be achieved. Discussions led to topics that should be worked on and tested. A concept for the organization of a real laboratory as a central contact point was created. The organization of the real tests was recorded as the most important task of the real laboratory. 

Finally, 14 real tests were developed from numerous ideas. The focus of these real tests is the promotion of sustainable tourism in Pinzgau. The real tests should make it possible to operate the arrival and departure, the accommodation and the leisure activities 100% renewable. The focus of some real tests is on innovative energy solutions, while others focus on raising awareness and the opportunity for guests and citizens to contribute to achieving the goals. 

If there is a project tender, the project is ready for implementation. The organization and tasks of the real laboratory as well as the real tests are fixed and are supported by local actors. The real tests necessary to achieve the defined goals are defined and classified and can be implemented in this form.

Project management

IONICA Mobility

Project or cooperation partners

• AIT Institute of Technology
• Salzburg AG

Sebastian Vitzthum
Seehofgasse 2
A-5700 Zell am See
Tel.: +43 (664) 341 17 74
E-Mail: sv@ionicamobility.org
Web: www.ionicamobility.org