Energy Systems of the Future

Joanneum Research is at the forefront in the research of new energy sources and increase in energy efficiency.

For a secure long-term energy supply that also meets the demand of climate protection two conditions are a foremost requirement: a drastically reduction in the energy demand and the use of renewable energy sources. The Institute of Energy Research at Joanneum Research is working on both pieces to the puzzle. One of the core areas is the use of biomass for heat, electricity and fuel production and solar radiation for the production of heat. These projects are concerned with low-emission biomass firing and plant facilities at which electric power can also be produced. For industrial partners possibilities for using solar power in industrial processes are being developed and research is being conducted on the replacement of increasingly scarce fossil fuels with biofuels, hydrogen and electricity.

Joanneum Research is also involved in matters of energy-savings. In addition to the heat supply in buildings, cooling systems in buildings will play a greater role in the future. The use of energy in both areas can be reduced by improving the building shell’s thermal insulation.

Joanneum Research already demonstrated this in the 1980’s using practical examples in residential building. With the passive house there has also been a technical development since then and which in addition to low heat loss levels is characterised by the use of solar radiation to reduce the necessary heat output.

While the utilisation of renewable energy and improvements in efficiency are more costly than the energy systems currently in use, they pay off through rapid amortisation. In addition to other research efforts which are to result in lower costs, there is also a need for government control measures to make innovations more affordable.

“The implementation of these measures is of such enormous importance because the desired targets such as a 20 % reduction of greenhouse gases by the year 2020 are only the first step. In the medium term (by 2050) an energy system must be established whose emissions are only approximately 20 % of the value in 1990,” according to engineer Dr. Josef Spitzer, head of the Institute of Energy Research. Further information can be found at www.joanneum.at.

source: ECO WORLD MAGAZINE, issue November 2008, page 14