Sustainable energy supply for Austria
Short Description
Status
completed
Summary
The necessity of a sustainable, secure energy supply is accepted by science, national and international decision makers, stakeholders and the economy. The necessity is undisputed. A lot of different scenarios of such an energy supply were already worked out.
Trend-extrapolations fail
These scenarios base on the present energy use which is dependant on the cheap disposal of fossil fuels. The energy use (by varying different parameters, e.g. oil price) is extrapolated for decades. The result: an exorbitantly high energy demand in future, which can not be satisfied by renewable energy sources. The question how to satisfy the long term energy demand is usually unanswered. Long-term, only renewable energy resources are available. Therefore the fulfilment of energy-demand must be made possible by using exclusively these sources.
New scenario-technique based on long-term availability of resources
Therefore, in this study a new approach is chosen: the long-term available energy sources are identified. The energy-services consumed in 2005 were researched and further developed under certain assumptions concerning energy efficiency, modern technology, consumer behaviour etc. Finally the potentials of renewable energy sources and these developed energy-services were linked in the sense of an energy balance. The use of efficient technology in conversion and transport was assumed. The aim of the scenarios is, to secure or improve the present energy services and the present comfort and to reduce the energy requirement for providing these services and comfort at the same time. “Energy-futures” are defined which can be maintained long term. Energy demand is consistent with energy supply by renewable energy sources.
The scenarios worked out are evaluated concerning sustainability. An optimal “energy future” is chosen.
A top-class scientific advisory board guides interdisciplinary study. Finally the results are presented and discussed with both important stakeholders and the interested public.
Project Partners
Project management
Prof. Dr. Reinhold CHRISTIAN
Umwelt Management Austria
Project collaborator
Mitarbeiter
Dipl.-Ing. Ralph Feichtinger, Rupert Christian, Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Rene Bolz
Umwelt Management Austria
Project or cooperation partner
- Univ.-Doz. DI Dr. Andreas WINDSPERGER, Dipl.-Ing. Marcus Hummel
Institut für Industrielle Ökologie - Univ.-Doz. Dr. Peter WEISH, Elisabeth Pfnier
Forum Wissenschaft & Umwelt
Contact Address
Umwelt Management Austria
3100 St. Pölten, Brunngasse 18/2
Tel.: +43 (2742) 21454
Fax: +43 (2742) 21454-20
E-Mail: uma@noe-lak.at
Web: www.uma.or.at