IEA SHC Task 69: Solar Hot Water for 2030

Solar water heating will play a crucial role in the decarbonization of the energy system for 2030 and beyond. IEA SHC Task 69 focuses on two technologies which are likely to play the biggest role in the global solar hot water market: thermosyphon and photovoltaic (PV) hot water systems. For these technologies global market surveys, systems and component optimizations, cost reduction analyses and revision of standards are being conducted to accelerate growth in target markets.

Path to the Future (WEG zur Zukunft) - The Path to Implementing a Climate-Resilient Future in Condominium Ownership

The research project "WEG zur Zukunft / Path to the Future" examines the low renovation rates of condominium owners' associations (WEGs) in Austria and the associated communicative, regulatory, organizational, and financial challenges. In collaboration with the affected stakeholders – primarily owners and property management companies – foundations for solutions are being developed through a co-creative process that can assist in the path toward implementation.

Twin2Share - Digital twins for energy optimization in energy communities (ECs)

Digital twins to support energy communities over their life cycle. The project focuses on optimizing energy efficiency and costs, dynamic load management and the integration of users to promote sustainable energy use and the stabilization of the electricity grid.

ProzesSan - Development of processes to increase the decarbonisation and refurbishment rate in the housing sector

The project aims to assist owners of large property portfolios with the challenges of refurbishing their buildings. The first step is to identify the various obstacles and develop appropriate solutions. These will be tested in three workshop phases with the owners, and a workshop manual and guidelines will be developed.

Designing Synergies. Spatial and Energetic Transformation Scenarios for Small Towns and Municipalities Using the Example of the Wagram Region (Lower Austria).

An interdisciplinary exploratory project that synergistically analyses strategies for the activation of vacant buildings and the potential for the formation of small-scale energy communities. The starting point is student projects from the Institute of Architecture and Design, TU Wien, for four municipalities in the Wagram region. On this basis, an interdisciplinary team of experts is developing a concept for a synergy cluster focussing on spatial energy planning, building physics, the circular economy and social innovation.

crowd2raum - Participatory co-financing models for socially innovative and sustainable reactivation for vacancies

As part of the exploratory project "crowd2raum", existing funding and support programmes are being combined with existing crowdfunding mechanisms (imGrätzl.at/WeLocally.at platform) to create a co-financing model for vacancy activation. This will be developed and tested in practice through the activation of four vacant spaces in the base zone in the defined pilot areas in Vienna and Graz.

RaumCoop 2.0 - Space Cooperative, a systematic operational model for activating unused or underutilized spaces.

The RaumCoop organizes the sharing of spaces, mobilizes underutilized spaces for non-residential purposes in the ground floor area, and makes them available for temporary use at affordable conditions. The goal of the project is to establish this non-profit organization.

Kooperativ Ternitz - New cooperative models for a climate resilient settlement revitalization

Kooperativ Ternitz is developing innovative cooperation models for settlement development as a contribution to a climate-neutral city. These models are being implemented in the Dreiersiedlung with a focus on sustainable mobility, green and blue infrastructure, and the revitalization of the settlement center, the results are being made available to stakeholders.

15th IEA Heat Pump Conference: Decarbonisation through Innovation

26. - 29. May 2026
Vienna Hofburg

The leading scientific conference and meeting place for academia, industry, market, policy makers and investors interested in the field of heat pumping technologies. Under the motto ‘Decarbonisation through Innovation’, experts from all over the world will meet to present and discuss the latest advances and developments.

IEA Action Network "Intelligent Energy Systems": International Smart Grid Action Network (ISGAN TCP)

ISGAN is an international network for the development and exchange of expertise on smart, clean, flexible and resilient power grids ("smart grids"). ISGAN provides a platform for the communication of international experiences, trends and insights for the implementation of smart grid solutions in decarbonized energy systems of the future.

IEA Hydrogen Task 52: Hydrogen for Iron/Steelmaking

With the aim of replacing fossil fuels in steel production, this task investigates the use of hydrogen for climate-neutral iron and steel production. The state of the art of existing and new processes is recorded, evaluated and compared. Based on this, technological, infrastructural and market-related findings are prepared and published for research, industry and politics.

IEA ISGAN Communication Working Group (Working period 2023 - 2025)

The ISGAN Communications Working Group prepares results, best practices, and insights from the TCP ISGAN in various communication formats. This includes interactive workshops with internal and external stakeholders, webinars, and policy papers presented at the Clean Energy Ministerials. In addition, the ISGAN Knowledge Tool was developed, which will be further enhanced in the follow-up project.

IEA ISGAN Communication Working Group (Working period 2025 - 2027)

This project examines the topic of “Network planning under uncertain framework conditions for intelligent distribution grids”. By means of international exchange and the collection of best practices and implemented examples, a Casebook and policy recommendations will be created.

BIM2BEM Flow - Continuous BIM-based energy efficient planning

Automated integration and assignment of exchange requirements between the design and simulation programs, based on the elaborated exchange information requirements, should enable continuous energy efficiency planning along the design phase.

International Sustainable Energy Conference – ISEC 2026

14. –16. April 2026
Graz

Over the three conference days, ISEC 2026 will focus on various thematic areas, such as the "Role of the Heating Sector and Energy Efficiency" in an interconnected sustainable energy system, as well as "Research and Innovation in Energy Transition, Circular Economy, and Climate-Neutral Cities".

Linz with Ambitio3xn - Linz with ambition for climate neutrality: governance, infrastructure and climate-social neighborhood Franckviertel

The project "Linz with Ambitio3xn" supports the city of Linz in becoming climate neutral by 2040. Contributing to this ambitious goal requires aligning urban planning instruments with urban climate mitigation and decarbonizing existing gas infrastructure in the Franckviertel neighborhood. In the project, standards for net zero non-profit housing will be tested in practice and shared learning are promoted.

OWA’s future - Otto Wagner Area: A trend-setting transformation from a medical institution into a NEB neighbourhood

Development of qualitative and quantitative planning objectives as well as an implementation strategy for the transformation of the Otto Wagner Area along the New European Bauhaus guidelines. The basis is formed by interdisciplinary expert forums, which provide important insights for the necessary transformation of existing areas and buildings in other cities as well.

Summer University „Alternative Economic and Monetary Systems (AEMS)”

13. - 31. July 2026
Vienna

The AEMS Summer University is designed for students and professionals from all fields who have an interest in economy, finance, and ecology. Participants will explore innovative alternatives to the current profit-driven economy and gain a deeper understanding of the complex interconnections shaping our world.

Ternitz 2040

The municipality of Ternitz has been a Climate Alliance municipality since 1991, a member of the KEM Schwarzatal region since 2010/2011, an e5 municipality (with 4e) from 2011 to 2024, and was awarded the title "Energie.Vorbild.Gemeinde" in June 2023 within the LEADER region NÖ-Süd. Key focus areas include the expansion of photovoltaics, the promotion of walking, cycling, public transport and e-mobility, energy efficiency in the public sector, the use of synergies with local industry, and the implementation of energy-efficient residential building concepts.

Summer University: "Alternative Economic and Monetary Systems (AEMS)"

17. July - 4. August 2023
Vienna, AT

Alternative Economic and Monetary Systems (AEMS) is an academic program offering a holistic approach to sustainability and the interconnections between economy, society and the environment. The summer school comprises lectures, (panel) discussions and workshops, as well as extracurricular activities and is open for students and professionals from all walks of life.