Our electricity grid is currently undergoing a complete transformation. But what happens in the event of a large-scale failure? The Institute of Technology Assessment (ITA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, together with the AIT - Austrian Institute of Technology, asks how a rapid restoration of the power supply can be guaranteed even after the switch to renewable energies. Another study sheds light on the topic of cybersecurity in Austria and what new opportunities may arise on a global level.

The energy transition requires new protective measures

The risk of a blackout, i.e. a large-scale failure of the power supply grid over a longer period of time, has been gaining importance for several years. There are several reasons for this: Energy supply needs and the dependencies associated with them continue to increase, and the energy transition also brings structural changes, increasing the complexity of the energy sector as a whole.

As the main artery of critical infrastructures, the power grid plays a central role. New challenges here are, for example, the need for efficient load management and stable supply security. The ITA-AIT study for Parliament asks how Austria would be optimally prepared for regional power failures and nationwide blackouts.

Cybersecurity - an opportunity for domestic companies?

With the advancing digitalisation, networking and automation of many areas of society – from transport to supply, production or the service industry – the risk of being exposed to cyber threats is also increasing. In order to effectively counter threats, a variety of initiatives are being pursued, especially at the European level. These include, for example, certifications for systems and products, infrastructures for Digital Autonomy or the Cyber Security Agency.

This second AIT-ITA study aims to identify Austrian actors and activities and to classify their potential in the European framework. The aim is to identify possible fields of action for the Austrian Parliament and to recommend further steps.