Research

Austria's endeavour to achieve climate neutrality by 2040 is an ambitious and crucial goal that requires a comprehensive and cross-sectoral transformation. Waste management plays a central role in this context, as it offers both challenges and opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This R&D service aims to develop innovative solutions and strategies to lead the waste management sector in Austria towards climate neutrality, especially in the area of thermal treatment of municipal waste. The motivation for this project lies in the realisation that, despite ongoing efforts to reduce and recycle waste, certain emissions, particularly from municipal waste incineration plants, are unavoidable. About half of the CO2 emissions from municipal waste incineration plants (subject to strong fluctuations and depending on the input material) are currently considered to have an impact on the climate because they are of fossil origin. By investigating efficient Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) technologies for this sector, the project offers the opportunity to make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A further driver for the project is the need to understand and shape the economic and social impact of these technological changes. It is crucial that the transition to climate neutrality in waste management is not only environmentally, but also socially just and economically viable. This requires analysing the cost structures, possible financing models and the effects on pricing in the waste management sector as much detail as possible. In addition, one focus is on analysing the integration of CCUS technologies into the existing energy system, both at plant level and in the nationwide energy supply.

The main objective of the GreenChar project is to investigate the possibilities of improving the microclimate in the regions of Trnava and Vienna in order to prevent the formation of urban heat islands and better adapt to the effects of climate change. Green roofs as part of the green infrastructure in cities improve rainwater retention and reduce the impact of urban heat islands, thus helping to mitigate the effects of climate change. The GreenChar project combines detailed analyses of the properties of biochar produced from sewage sludge as an innovative feedstock to improve the properties of roof substrates, with a focus on increasing water retention capacity, with studies of the environmental impact of the improved substrates (leaching of nutrients and metals, microbial diversity, plant stress, ...) using experimental roofs and roof lysimeters. The latter make it possible to monitor the processes in the complex substrate-water-plant system. Another focus of the project is the selection of suitable plants for extensive green roofs in the Central European urban climate with a high degree of ecosystem services and added value. As part of the project, three experimental green roofs equipped with sensors for measuring environmental data will be installed on both sides of the border at the project partners' sites. A modular green roof at the Slovakian partner and an equally unique MUGLI mobile exhibition space on both sides of the SK-AT border will be used to disseminate the results and communicate with the target group (residents and visitors to the SK-AT border regions). The project makes an important contribution to the handling and treatment of sewage sludge as a residual material and resource.

The aim of this research project is to develop measures to improve Alterlaa's thermal performance and decarbonize its heating system as far as feasible. The potentials and risks are to be analyzed in technical, economic and social terms. The aim is to adopt a package of measures based on this. The motivation behind this submission is to develop the Alt Erlaa residential and retail park in Vienna's Liesing district, one of the largest residential complexes in Austria, into a climate-neutral neighborhood. Its builder and owner, the non-profit housing association GESIBA (represented by AEAG), has the concrete intention of implementing a comprehensive project in the near future with the components of thermal improvement and complete conversion from fossil fuels to climate-neutral energy sources. Preliminary work has already been carried out on the technical building planning. The exploratory study submitted in this case substantially strengthens and expands this project. The Alt Erlaa residential and retail park in Vienna Liesing comprises 3,200 apartments for approx. 9,000 people and 340,000 m² of gross floor area in three components. It was built between 1973 and 1985 by the non-profit developer GESIBA according to plans by the Viennese architect Harry Glück. On this scale, it is therefore a unique flagship project that demonstrates how decarbonization in the building sector can be achieved on a large scale.