17
Partnership to boost
innovative technologies
Young energy professionals kicked off the first network meeting
between the Austrian Member Committee of the World Energy
Council and the Climate & Energy Fund since entering a cooperation
agreement in 2017.
By World Energy Council
The Climate & Energy Fund was set up by the
Austrian government in 2007, with the aim of
developing new, innovative methods of climate
protection and introducing a sustainable energy
policy. They support ideas, concepts, and projects
in the areas of research and development, mobility,
and market penetration. In this context, the Climate
Fund seeks above all to create a balanced portfolio
in which innovative technologies within the entire
energy spectrum are considered.
The existence of the Climate Fund, according to its
managing director, Theresia Vogel, is more important than
ever. She commented: “The differences in temperature
are significant over time, which can be seen, for example,
in the fact that only a few hundred snow machines were
used in ski areas in Austria 20 years ago, whereas today,
there are more than 20 000 machines. But climate
change is not immediately noticeable everywhere. We will
face increased drought in certain parts of the world, with
other areas being affected by floods.”
At present, the Climate and Energy Fund mainly
supports projects in the areas of renewable energy
sources, networks and storage, energy efficiency, and
hydrogen/fuel cells. In particular, technologies such
as photovoltaics, wind energy, geothermal energy,
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
hydropower, heat pumps, bioenergy and hydrogen, with
hydrogen becoming even more relevant in the future
than ever before.
By promoting innovative projects in Austria, the Climate
and Energy Fund is not solely focused on environmental
protection.
Austria already has many leading innovative solutions, such
as flexible materials for PV systems, hydrogen production
from PV and wind, and compression of H 2 and CO 2 in
natural gas deposits. Austria is seeing renewable energy
as an opportunity to develop and expand its role in certain
areas of technology and become a world market leader.
“Unfortunately, there is still an underfunding in energy
technologies,” states Vogel. “In particular, sufficient
budget for precursors to market entry. Large-volume
demonstration and pilot projects take place too rarely.”
In 2018, the Climate Fund will promote three flagship
areas, each with a budget of EUR20-million to EUR40-
million, showcasing how efficient energy generation,
consumption, system management, and storage can
be achieved in a system optimised for all market
participants with a temporary regional one supply,
through up to 100% renewable energy. PA
Unfortunately,
there is still an
underfunding
in energy
technologies.
March 2018 Volume 24 I Number 1