Let me start by apologies for a late report. I had exams followed by travel.

Renewable Energy in Austria 

The European Union has a vision to increase the share of energy from renewable sources to 20 percent by 2020. However, in contrast, Austria had already reached 31 percent in 2010! The country expects to reach an amazing level of 34 percent by 2020.

The 2 most important renewable energy sources in Austria are hydropower and biomass. Often overlooked, biomass is considered an integral source of renewable energy with a share of over 45 percent.

Booming biomass

Austria has achieved technology leadership in the field of small biomass boilers as well as the development of marketable small and micro-co-generation systems. There is an export rate of 70 percent. Even two thirds of the biomass furnaces that are installed in Germany come from Austrian producers.

Currently, there is research going on about heat pumps. Recent study concentrates on combining heat pumps with other energy technologies such as solar thermal energy and photo-voltaic energy as well as a combination of heating and cooling or drying out buildings.

Innovations from Austria

Austria has also made several developments in this field. One of these include bio gas storage tanks from special textiles. In fact, the world’s largest storage facility for bio gas from a sewage treatment plant in Mexico was constructed by Sattler, an Austrian company specializing in storage concepts for bio gas, liquid manure and fermentation residues.

Sattler has over 30 years’ experience in manufacturing coated membranes for bio gas storage. Sattler PRO-TEX bio gas membranes are Multi-Layer-Composites (MLCs), designed to meet the requirements of the bio gas industry, such as reduced methane permeability and high chemical resistance. A core of high-strength polyester yarns that carry the static forces of a building, is stabilized and protected by multiple layers of special PVC, and the surface then sealed with a specific lacquer. This results in a product with the low bio gas permeability, high resistance to aggressive substances contained both in the bio gas and the condensate, as well as excellent weathering resistance and long lifespan.

Innovative ideas for the future

Electricity and heat from olives: Research is being carried out by The Vienna University of Technology and Repotec on next generation biomass facilities that will be designed to generate electricity and heat from olive pressing residues.

Sources and references

https://investinaustria.at/en/downloads/brochures/environmental-technologies-2015.pdf

https://protex.sattler.com/en/applications/environment-membranes-for-flexible-biogas-and-water-storage-systems/