Page 40 - European Energy Innovation magazine - autumn 2022 edition

Autumn 2022 European Energy Innovation
40 RENEWABLE HEAT

Renewable heat: Is it rocket science?

How Upper Austria is tackling the clean heat transition

By Christiane Egger and Megan Gignac, OÖ Energiesparverband, Upper Austria

The energy world has taken a profound shift . The price crisis, multiplying signs of climate change
and threats to energy security urge us to act like never before. How to make the clean heat
transition reality as quickly as possible is at the top of the agenda. Different from the past, when
the focus was oft en on motivating building owners to invest in renewable heat, today we need to
fi gure out how to cope with the soaring demand while maintaining high quality levels.

n Upper Austria, a region with 1.5 have contributed to these positive agency (OÖ Energiesparverband
million inhabitants, over 60% of all developments, above all: ESV), have adopted a multi-faceted
space heating already comes from approach based on a combination
Irenewable and waste heat – trend • an effective policy structure of “sticks” (regulatory measures
strongly increasing. 37% of dwellings combining regulatory measures, such as stringent effi ciency criteria
are heated with clean bioenergy, 13% fi nancial incentives and and a timetable for banning fossil
with district heating from CHP and information and training activities; fuel heating), “carrots” (attractive
11% with heat pumps. Greenhouse and stable fi nancial incentives) and
gas emissions from buildings were • having a choice of affordable “tambourines” (information, training
reduced by 39% in the past 10 years, and highly effi cient renewable and awareness raising activities) for
bringing us closer to our goal of options on the market (automatic the entire heat value chain.
climate neutrality. bioenergy boilers, heat pumps, and
district heating from renewables Quality is King
A head start to face the price crisis: and CHP); Due to Austria’s federal structure,
sticks, carrots and tambourines building legislation (and with this
Over the past three decades, • the region’s continuous work on the implementation of the European
strategic decision-making and developing and supporting market Buildings Directive) are regional
comprehensive actions regarding structures, which are now able to responsibilities. In Upper Austria,
sustainable energy policies have absorb the surging demand. effi ciency requirements for buildings,
resulted in high-performing markets including heating systems, were
for eliminating fossil fuels in the Since the 1990s, the region, progressively tightened over the
heating sector. A number of elements supported by its regional energy years, thereby spurring innovation.
Manufacturers responded to these
standards by developing high-
effi ciency products.
The development of the bioheat
market in Austria stands on these
three quality pillars: sustainable
forestry practices, effective fuel
production and distribution, and
effi cient and low-emission heating
equipment. Bioenergy (mostly
pellets and wood chips) comes
from CO -neutral and sustainable
2
fuels produced from residues from
sustainable forestry and by-products
from the wood industry.

The quality and convenience of
modern, fully automated, ultra-low
emission heating equipment helped
create consumer trust.

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