We drive a green-powered car, live in an energy efficient building or heat with a heat pump – wherever energy is used, we currently witness a life-changing transition: In order to slow down climate change, wide-spread efforts are being made to end dependence on coal, gas and oil. Policy-makers and businesses expect positive economic effects, such as the creation of new jobs, new markets and new industrial sectors.

Austria has set ambitious climate targets for itself: the emission of greenhouse gases is to be reduced by 36 percent by 2030 and renewable energies are to almost completely replace fossil fuels by 2050. These numbers are deduced from the climate targets of the European Council. Money factors into this equation: if Austria misses its climate targets, it will have to purchase emission rights worth billions from the EU.

This development will give room to new products and new businesses, new photovoltaic, wind and hydroelectric power plants will be built. For such a far-reaching turnaround to succeed, everyone must participate. Not only big consumers are called upon to change their energy behaviour. Citizens also have an active role to play as consumers, voters and energy producers. They are expected to learn to deal with these new technologies and even to produce their own energy.

Thousands of new jobs – for example through the expansion and modernisation of the electricity networks, in the supply industry (e.g. electric vehicles) or in the construction industry (e.g. plus-energy buildings, solar cooling, etc.) – could follow. In addition to economic growth, efficient technologies and new processes can also reduce the high energy consumption in industry.

How does it work?

The way we generate and consume energy will become more flexible. Smart grids are regarded as the central infrastructure for a future energy system. In addition to the big energy producers, there will also be many small, decentralised producers who will feed their electricity into the grid. The amount of available electricity will literally depend on the weather when it comes to wind, water and solar energy. This means that weather data will also play a greater role in estimating the supply of energy. Energy will then be used or stored directly by consumers when it is abundant. E-cars, for example, do not necessarily have to be recharged at all times; they could also be connected to the grid overnight and then again recharged if there is a sufficient supply of green electricity.

The ITA project MATCH looked at which smart grid technologies are already in use in Austria, Norway and Denmark and how they have proven to be valuable: The main outcome was that communication and a regular exchange with the local consumers is essential. However, solutions that work well in one geographic area cannot necessarily be transferred to the entire energy system. It is therefore important to examine the different impacts of locally successful solutions on existing national energy systems.

The building sector has also turned into a major contributor to energy efficiency. Austria is a pioneer in passive houses in Europe. For example, the ITA has assisted the Lower Austrian municipality of Korneuburg in the energy-efficient renovation of two residential buildings. In office buildings, too, an enormous amount of energy can be saved and at the same time the indoor quality at the workplace can be improved. The ITA examined the satisfaction of employees in the EnergyBase, Vienna's first "green" office building.

Electromobility: In Austria, diesel still remains the most sought after fuel source for cars. This can change quickly, however, as international companies recognize that time is running out. More and more brands are increasingly relying on battery-powered vehicles. This requires a new infrastructure and new business models. The ITA was investigating the switch to electric cars for vehicle fleets in Vienna. Company fleets are regarded as an attractive entry market for alternative drive systems.

Technological shifts abound

The energy revolution raises a number of questions. What are the pros and cons of the new technical possibilities? Do they live up to expectations? How can all these new technologies be explained without overwhelming the consumers? Also, there are new risks: Is the data collected about our energy consumption sufficiently protected? Are the new digital infrastructures secure and stable enough?

The ITA deals with the transformation of our energy system with the aim of identifying the desired and undesired consequences early on and contributing to a successful development process.

Selected projects related to Smart Grids

Read more about event Heated Outdoor Seating
Jan 2024 - Dec 2026

Heated Outdoor Seating

Outdoor heaters against the backdrop of climate change
Read more about event System Readiness
Feb 2023 - Dec 2023

System Readiness

On behalf of the Climate and Energy Fund, the ITA is further developing a model that enables a detail-oriented assessment of the maturity of innovations for climate-neutral…
Read more about event Blackout prevention in Austria
Jun 2021 - Jan 2022

Blackout prevention in Austria

Blackout scenarios, risks and possible protective measures. This study for the Austrian Parliament asks how Austria would be optimally prepared for regional power failures and…
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Read more about event TRANS-PED
Apr 2021 - Jun 2023

TRANS-PED

Sweden, Belgium and Austria are setting up a learning network to evaluate and promote local initiatives for sustainable energy supply
[Translate to English:]
Read more about event SafeLiBatt
Nov 2020 - Jan 2024

SafeLiBatt

Safety and risk assessment of 1st and 2nd life lithium-ion batteries
[Translate to English:]
Read more about event Energy transition – assessing innovation
Nov 2020 - Jun 2023

Energy transition – assessing innovation

Development of a framework for comparative research on the implications and risks of innovations for a decarbonised energy system
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Read more about event Digitalisation and Internet of Things for heat pumps
Mar 2020 - Oct 2022

Digitalisation and Internet of Things for heat pumps

Evaluation of privacy aspects when using connected heat pumps in private households
Read more about event Electric car fleets for Vienna
Mar 2019 - Sep 2019

Electric car fleets for Vienna

Study on the circulation of electric vehicles in Vienna's company fleets
Read more about event The future of electricity storage
Nov 2018 - Jun 2019

The future of electricity storage

Societal, economic, and environmentally questions of energy storage solutions
Read more about event Pop-Up Housing
Apr 2018 - Mar 2021

Pop-Up Housing

Urban pop-up housing environments and their potential as local innovation systems
Read more about event Energy Model Region
Jan 2018 - Dec 2018

Energy Model Region

Innovative Energietechnologien aus Österreich im Praxistest
Read more about event MATCH: Markets – Actors – Technologies
Feb 2016 - Oct 2018

MATCH: Markets – Actors – Technologies

A comparative study of smart grid solutions in Austria, Norway and Denmark
Read more about event Way2Smart Korneuburg
Jul 2015 - Sep 2019

Way2Smart Korneuburg

Pilot project for future sustainable Smart City concepts in the city of Korneuburg
Read more about event Monitoring of urban Technologies
Jul 2014 - Dec 2015

Monitoring of urban Technologies

Studie zur Klassifizierung, Beschreibung und Bewertung von Technik für die Stadt der Zukunft
Read more about event Build to satisfy
Feb 2012 - Dec 2013

Build to satisfy

Modellierung des NutzerInnenverhaltens in Niedrigst- und Plusenergiegebäuden
Read more about event Smart Response
Jun 2010 - Jul 2012

Smart Response

Lastmanagement für intelligente Stromnetze in Österreich
Read more about event Smart New World?
Feb 2010 - Jan 2011

Smart New World?

Schlüsselfaktoren für einen gerechtfertigten und akzeptablen Einsatz von intelligenten Stromzählern
Read more about event €CO2 Management
Aug 2009 - Dec 2012

€CO2 Management

Die klimapolitische Relevanz und Bedeutung von intelligenten Stromzählern für Privathaushalte