Energie:autark Kötschach-Mauthen
Caritnhia, Austria
PROJECT TEAM & PARTNERS
- association energie:autark Kötschach-Mauthen
- politicians,
- managers,
- touristic experts
- energy producers
FUNDING
- Private funding
- LEADER funding
- Federal funding
TIMESCALE - 3 years (2008-2010)
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
The Kötschach-Mauthen region has been using renewable energy for a long time. The first water power plant was built by Anton Klauss in 1886. It was the second in Carinthia and the fifth in the K&K-Monarchy. Furthermore, a power grid existed in Kötschach-Mauthen already in 1899, almost 14 years before a grid was built in Klagenfurt, the Carinthian capital. The grid was extended during the following years by the Klauss family, who are today's owner of the grid and the utility company ALPEN ADRIA ENERGIE (AAE). The pioneering feat of this family has been the key to today's numerous plants using renewable energy for power production in Kötschach-Mauthen: 21 small hydro power plants (20 in private property, 1 owned by KELAG the Carinthian federal utility), 3 reservoirs, Carinthian`s only wind power plant (located at 1,400m), one biogas plant and several PV and thermal solar plants. Three biomass district heating systems were installed due to an initiative of the Mayor of Kötschach-Mauthen Walter Hartlieb in 1997 to connect all public buildings. Today the town hall (used for public services and cultural events), the school buildings (elementary and secondary school), residential buildings, public swimming pool, bank buildings and industrial plants are connected to the biomass district heating. Generated electricity that exceeds the regional demand is sold by the utility "Alpen Adria Energie Naturstrom GmbH" (Manager Ing. Wilfried Klauss) as "AAE-Naturstrom - 100% clean electricity" to about 6,000 consumers in Austria. A renewable power selling cooperation has been established between the "Alpen Adria Energie Naturstrom GmbH" and communities in the Waldviertel region (in the federal state Lower Austria) running wind power plants, in order to build a network of regional renewable energy producers.
Currently the energy-self-sufficiency coefficient as the ratio between regional energy demand and regional renewable energy generated is about 75%. Energy demand encloses electricity, heat and fuels. Especially the production of electricity (49.3 GWh/y) exceeds by far the demand (14.4 GWh/y; surplus of 34.9 GWh/y). Thus the energy-self-sufficiency index for electricity is 343%. Heat demand accounts for 47.9 GWh/y, with 26.3 GWh/y locally produced using regional renewable resources: thus the energy-self-sufficiency index for heat is currently 55%. So far renewable fuel has not been produced in Kötschach-Mauthen (39.6 GWh/y fuel demand).
The potential of regional resources for additional energy production are presented in the energy balance for 2020 developed by Asteenergy (Krumpendorf, Carinthia). The potential of regional energy production are: 7.3 GWh/y electricity, 27.3 GWh/y heat (mainly from biomass) and 5.2 GWh/y fuel (biogas with natural gas quality); in total a potential of 39.8 GWh/y. With additionally energy saving potentials realised an energy-self-sufficiency coefficient of 130% in total could be reached. Energy saving potentials account for 2 GWh/y of electricity and heat, and 9 GWh/y fuel. These are very ambitious goals, but by participation of all relevant stakeholders and the population they could be achieved.
The potential of the regional resources for additional energy production are presented in the energy balance for 2020 developed by Asteenergy (Krumpendorf, Carinthia). These are: 7.3 GWh/y electricity, 27.3 GWh/y heat (mainly from biomass) and 5.2 GWh/y fuel (biogas with natural gas quality); in total a potential of 39.8 GWh/y. With additionally energy saving potentials realised an energy-self-sufficiency coefficient of 130% in total could be reached. Energy saving potential accounts for 2 GWh/y of electricity and heat and 9 GWh/y fuel. These are very ambitious goals, but by participation of all relevant stakeholders and the population were proven to be achievable.
Energy-experience Kötschach-Mauthen:
- At the office for the association "energie:autark Kötschach-Mauthen" there will be an energy-information-point where everybody who takes stock of renewable energies or the energy situation in Kötschach-Mauthen can get information around the clock (at opening hours of the office face-to-face otherwise with a multimedia system which will also be connected with the information-guidance-visitors system).
- Organisation of events, seminars, guidances, exhibitions and more.
- Compilation of an information-guidance-visitors system for the production facilities of renewable energies in Kötschach-Mauthen (kind of information desk about the different production facilities with touch-screens)
- Compilation of an eco-energy-tourism-concept (tourists should be able to feel, look at and experience energy in Kötschach-Mauthen).
- Solar powered filling station with two small electro-quads.
- 141m² photovoltaic on the roof of the town hall.
Learning garden for renewable energies:
- A place where schools can come to experiment, find out and experience what renewable energies (sun, wind, water, biomass) are and learn what it means to be energy efficient.
- The concept for this "learning-garden" will be compiled with teachers, pedagogues and the Climate Alliance Carinthia.
- The research project "Multifunctional Energy Centre Kötschach-Mauthen" performed in cooperation with JOANNEUM RESEARCH Graz/Austria (financed by the Austrian Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology) was awarded the "Energy Globe Carinthia 2008" (category fire). The tourism association "Kötschach-Mauthen/Plöckenpass" and stakeholders together with JOANNEUM RESEARCH are developing a new tourism concept to foster the "energy experience" in Kötschach-Mauthen ("Ökoenergietourismus"). The "Energy-info-point" in the town hall will be accessible 24 hours.
- Excursions, fairs and workshops will be held in the new event hall.
- Renewable energy production und use on the one hand and the implementation in the community on the other hand will be presented to the population, energy experts and interested tourists.
PROJECT TARGETS
1. Raise awareness of renewable energy use
2. Raise awareness of energy saving measures
3. Energy-information for everybody
4. Total energy-self-sufficiency (electricity and heat)
5. Climate protection - reduce CO2
6. Use of regional renewable resources
LESSONS LEARNT
Ways to reach energy self sufficiency in the Alps.
INNOVATIVE PRACTICE
Measurement of energy self sufficiency
CONTACT DETAILS
Chairman and major: Mr. Walter Hartlieb
Secretary of the association office: Ms. Sabrina Barthel
Email: info@energie-autark.at
