The LandesEnergieVerein Steiermark (StyrianEnergyAgency) is working on a number of projects, in some cases as project manager and in others as partner. The following provides a list of current projects, structured according to topic.
| Name | Foundation
of energy agencies in south-west Styria and south-west Brandenburg (Elbe-Elster
circle)
Creation of energy management agencies in south West Styria and Südwest Brandenburg |
| Project duration | 2001 |
| Content |
The Institute for Heat Technology at the Technical University in Graz developed the scientific concept for the regional exhibition. In the course of this project a need arose to find sponsors to finance exhibits (manufactured specially or on loan) which would then be integrated into the advertising campaign for the exhibition under a concept developed by the promotion company. The LEV was commissioned to compile contracts and drew up a concept for subsequent use of exhibits acquired. To provide further use for the thermograph camera, plans were made for a "Campaign to investigate weak points in buildings". |
| LEV contribution |
Financial assistance |
| Partner(s) | Styrian Regional Government, Technical University of Graz, Institute for Heat Engineering, Univ. Prof. Dr. DI Beate Reetz, Waltl & Waltl, sponsors |
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| Name |
Styrian Energy Trail |
| Project duration | Spring 2001 - Spring 2002 |
| Content |
The aim of the project is to compile a guidebook to renewable energy in order to promote the use of these energy sources and with a cross-link to the tourist industry.The "Solar Energy Trail" was created as part of the regional exhibition, 2001 ENERGY; in Gleisdorf and Weiz. The reason for this was the demand for opportunities to see technologies that use solar energy. This is why photovoltaic plants - some with new fields of application - were built and documented by Feistritzwerke - Steweag GMBH.The thermal use of solar energy and the use of biomass are already widespread in Styria, and requests to visit these plants are received regularly from home and abroad. Showpiece projects are being described and collected for the guidebook, which will soon go into print. |
| LEV contribution |
Financial assistance |
| Partner(s) | Study group for RENEWABLE ENERGY, regional energy manager |
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| Name | Energy-saving measures in the regional government's own property, installation of intermediate on/off switches at all small water heaters |
| Project duration | Start: March 2000; project status: in progress |
| Content |
In the municipal area of Graz, the regional capital, small water heaters
are in use at 530 locations run by the Styrian regional government's
property office. By installing a suitable device which is switched on as
needed to provide hot water by pushing a button, the Styrian regional
government has been able to save approx. EUR .... (ATS 219,000.-) p.a. in
Graz alone. The investment costs are roughly EUR ... (ATS 348.-) per unit (this is a retail price, however a much lower price is granted for large-scale orders). |
| LEV contribution |
Exact measurements and comparisons were made with international investigations beforehand. The water heaters were installed at the locations requested by the regional government. |
| Partner(s) | Styrian Regional Government |
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| Name | GeCon - Economical contracting for small to medium-sized local authorities in Styria |
| Project duration | July 1999 - January 2001 |
| Content |
Buildings still have considerable potential for reducing energy
consumption, also local authority buildings. What is more, the energy
costs in small and medium-sized local authorities take up a share of the
budget that is not to be underestimated. In addition, implementation of
energy-saving measures goes hand in hand with positive aspects for the
environment and for employment. Since the property used by small local authorities has no profit potential for the contractor, the aim of the project is to demonstrate the suitability of contracting in pools formed by several local authorities together for preparation, consulting and, above all, issuing a joint tender specification. Five local authorities took part in two pools with a total of 21 properties in the first multi-authority contracting tender. The energy costs were reduced by 15 per cent in one pool, and by 44 per cent in another. |
| LEV contribution |
|
| Partner(s) | Energieverwertungsagentur E.V.A. (Energy utilisation agency), Region of Styria |
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| Name | OPET (organisation for promotion of energy technologies) |
| EU Programme | Joule/Thermie |
| Project duration | May 2000 - May 2001, project status: in progress |
| Contents |
The OPET forms a network of organisations all over Europe with the aim of promoting non-nuclear energy technologies, mainly by spreading information on the advantages of these technologies. The main focus is on newly developed technologies under the EU programmes Joule/Thermie (energy research and building of demonstration plants) and 5 supporting programmes for FTE. |
| LEV contribution |
Main focus for 2000: energy efficiency and power generating from sewage treatment plants, as well as spreading know -how on the use of biomass as a source of energy (seminars, publications, etc.) and promoting this type of plant.Assistance for those wishing to take part in the EU energy programmes. Consulting for small and medium-sized companies with a view to making them more competitive by efficient use of energy and implementing new, innovative technologies. |
| Partner(s) | ZREU, Regensburg, Germany ESV-Oberösterreich, Linz ÖKK - Wien |
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| Name | Green bio-refinery - integrated utilisation of grass as the cornerstone of developing a sustainable culture environment |
| Project duration | January 2001 - summer 2002 |
| Content |
Bio-refineries are "multi-product" systems based on sustainable
raw materials (NAWAROS). The "green bio-refinery" processes the
green mass from grassland (and biogenous waste from agriculture), and a
all-embracing approach is used to recover - lactic acids - proteins - fibres - energy and fines, such as carotinoids or chlorophyll. The concept, with its sustainable approach, ensures sustainable land use and conservation of cultivated areas, as well as safeguarding the income of local farmers and farms that are economically self-sufficient. This project covers yield investigations on grassland and green areas, a selection of silage starter cultures in the laboratory, tests on primary processing (pressing tests), mass balances, chemical analyses and evaluation of biogas production and utilisation while fermenting biogenous residual substances. Reviews of the overall process sequences and of the economic aspects are to provide a well-rounded picture of the potential of the green bio-refinery. |
| LEV contribution |
Co-financing |
| Partner(s) |
Kornberg Institut, Steirisches Vulkanland Regionalentwicklung GmbH Joanneum Research, Institute for Environmental Geology and Ecosystem Research Bundesanstalt für Alpenländische Landwirtschaft - BAL (Federal Institute for Alpine Agriculture) in Gumpenstein IFA - Tulln, Department of Environmental Biotechnnology Technical University in Graz, Institute for Biotechnology Biogas Work Group |
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| Name |
Regular Meeting of Local Heating Operators using International Biomass |
| Project duration | 29/30 November, 2000 |
| Contents | Organising of a 2-day meeting of Austrian, German and Italian biomass heating plant operators to exchange views and experience. The programme covered lectures on technical and organisational questions from the operators, as well as comprehensive discussions in small groups led by a chairperson in order to exchange views. In addition, there were excursions (e.g. Admont energy conversion plant from biomass) and special consulting on marketing aspects. |
| LEV contribution |
Complete organisation |
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| Name |
Domestic Wood Pellet heating Systems - An Implementation Plan for Ireland |
| EU Programme | ALTENER II |
| Project duration | October 2000 - April 2002 |
| Contents | Transfer of Styrian and Danish know-how for production, use and marketing of pellets. Documenting of existing international suppliers of pellet-fired boilers, marketing offensives for pellet-fired heating systems in selected parts of Ireland, implementation plan for the installation of several pellet-fired heating systems, drawing up a plan to install a pellet-heating industry in Ireland. |
| LEV contribution |
LEV acts as intermediary for Styrian companies that wish to gain a foothold on the newly established pellet market in Ireland and organises participation in the project for these companies. |
| Partner(s) | Tipperary Energy Agency, (Ireland), Renewable Energy Group (Ireland), University of Southern Denmark (Denmark) |
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| Name | Pyrolysis oil - Liquid bio-fuel for heating plants, diesel motors and gas turbines |
| Project duration | Autumn 2000 - December 2001 |
| Content |
The project covers an investigation of possible methods of producing and
using pyrolysis oil, the product obtained from "flash pyrolysis"
of biomass, in Austria. Technical and economic aspects were considered,
the extent of the necessary development work was specified and
recommendations were made for implementation of the project. Pyrolysis oil
is produced when wood particles are heated very rapidly and the vapour
produced is then condensed. The energy yield is 70 to 80%. The calorific
value is approximately 17 MJ/kg, and the production costs will be between
24 and 37 Euro/MWh when the technology becomes state of the art. In 2002, there will be five demonstration plants running in Europe, heating furnaces producing upwards of approx. 200 kW, slow-running diesel motors and gas turbines with a capacity of 15 to 50 t/d. There is no economically feasible technology at the moment for small central heating boilers. The technical standards for the product pyrolysis oil are currently being drawn up. Compared with heating oil and natural gas, 59 to 84% of the greenhouse gas (CO2 equivalent) can be avoided, depending on the application. The measures recommended for implementation of pyrolysis technology included setting up a pilot plant, as well as test and demonstration plants for heating boilers and diesel motor co-generation power stations, and development of domestic central heating boilers. |
| LEV contribution |
Co-financing |
| Partner(s) | Joanneum Research, Institute for Energy Research, BMVIT, BMLFUW, Region of Styria |
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| Name | WIND - Tauern Windpark Oberzeiring |
| EU Programme | ALTENER II |
| Project duration | January 1999 - December 2000 status: in progress |
| Contents |
·Highest situated Windpark project in Europe (1850 m above sea level),
output 7x1.5 MW
Detailed wind measurements, detailed planning of the plant and writing out, calculation of models and documentation, implementation of the authorizing procedure |
| LEV contribution |
Co-work in all phases |
| Partner(s) | Energy workshop Ltd, Heiligenstatt, Austria; German institute of wind energy, Wilhelmshaven, Germany |
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| Name | Wind power suitability areas - General conditions for use of wind power in Styria |
| Project duration | January 2002 - Summer 2003 |
| Contents |
In addition to the meteorological conditions, the available infrastructure
and proximity to the M.V. mains supply are of considerable significance,
as are availability of supply lines and economic feasibility. In order to
make use of the estimated potential of 150 GWh in Styria, some 70 MW-class
wind power plants will have to be built. A total area of approximately 4
km2 - roughly 0.02% of the region of Styria - is needed for this
undertaking. Earmarking of the land will require a concerted effort, also
with an eye to conservation and maximum acceptance by the population.The
objective of the project is to mark suitable areas on a map and to publish
it in the LUIS geographical information system. The locations shown are intended to simplify the building permission procedure and reduce the planning risk for investors, as well as guarantee the structured development of wind power use in Styria. This process, however, should not impose restrictions on the areas concerned, dictating that wind power is the only desired and possible source of energy here. Additional locations should continue to be examined individually; further potential may be found in built-up areas in particular, especially in existing industrial regions. |
| LEV contribution |
Project co-ordination |
| Partner(s) | University of Graz, Institute for Geography, Univ. Prof. Dr. Reinhold LazarEcowatt, Dr. Hugo Kofler, Civil Engineer for EcologyAndreas Pilz, Meteorological Measuring Techniques |
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| Name | Wind power plant Plankogel - investment model |
| Project duration | Autumn 2000 - Spring 2002 |
| Contents | Various financing methods have to be reviewed when setting up a wind power plant. For the Plankogel plant, an investment model has been established. A description of this model is provided in a manual for planning wind power plants to be published by the LEV. This manual will go into print shortly. |
| LEV contribution |
Client |
| Partner(s) | Almwind KEG, St. Kathrein am Offenegg |