In addition to the climate crisis, the current global political situation puts the issue of sovereign and sustainable energy supply in Austria and the European Union into focus even more. At our event in June, hosted the TU Wien Academy together with the Club of Rome - Austrian Chapter, opens an external URL in a new window, some insight on this topic was provided.

After a brief introduction by Dr.Michael Losch (Special Envoy for Green Industrial Policy, BMK), the two keynote speakers, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Nabojsa Nakicenovic (Former Deputy Director of International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis - IIASA) and Univ.-Prof. Dr.Reinhard Haas (Energy Economics Group & academic director of the MSc Renewable Energy Systems at TU Wien), discussed questions such as: How much energy do we need for complete decarbonization? Where will this energy come from? Will it be produced in Austria? What are the international framework conditions?

Watch the opening and keynote speeches here>>, opens an external URL in a new window

Following the addresses of Prof. Nakicenovic and Prof. Haas, a panel of experts discussed how we can implement the energy transition in practice. A big thank you to the panelists:

DI Dr. Hildegard Aichberger (Member of the Board, oekostrom AG) 
Peter Eiler (Head of Hydrogen Center, VERBUND Energy4Business GmbH) 
DI Markus Mitteregger, MBA (CEO RAG Austria AG) 
Mag. Judith Neyer (Director Strategic Energy Policy, Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology) 
DI Theresia Vogel (Managing Director Climate and Energy Fund) 

Moderation: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Karl Steininger

Although Austria is already well positioned in the field of renewable electricity supply through hydropower, a large part of primary energy (for heating, mobility & industry) is still obtained from fossil sources. For the desired rapid decarbonization and possible energy sovereignty, we still must overcome some major hurdles. For example, the expansion target for an additional 27 TWh of electricity in the Renewable Energy Exchange Act (EAG) is already a big step, but it does not yet cover all areas and by no means covers (consciously) the entire primary energy demand.

Watch the entire event here>>, opens an external URL in a new window
 

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The MSc Renewable Energy Systems program at TU Wien Academy for Continuing Education trains participants to become experts in planning and evaluating international projects in the field of alternative energy systems such as solar, wind or geothermal energy. Students are provided with in‐depth knowledge and expertise on legal, technical and economic aspects of sustainable energy production on regular field trips and excursions.
Interested? Find out more >>