Research

As part of the ELBE project, an Excel tool was developed and programmed for the optimal design of photovoltaic systems and electricity storage facilities on farmes with regard to energy self-sufficiency and economic efficiency. Both business-specific load profiles and local conditions are incorporated into the calculations, and it is possible to compare different variants. In this project, the Excel tool is continuously validated and tested for practical suitability. The tool will be presented to energy consultants from the chambers of agriculture and, subsequently, possible fields of application in energy consulting will be developed.

The project collects data on the economic situation of large forests in Austria (forestry operations >500 hectares) during the specified period and presents the current developments in this area. To this end, operating accounts are prepared, as well as individual and inter-company evaluations (such as standardized mean value calculations (nominal and real) and panel calculations for the overall mean and the total of 9 groups for the final evaluation, as well as the preparation of individual cost and income statements (benchmark comparison) and “hit lists” for approx. 100 forestry reporting companies. The aggregated key figures are important empirical data bases for forestry policy makers as well as for forestry economic research and teaching at BOKU University and are included, among other things, in the annual forest report of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management.

This project examines central aspects of insurance premium subsidies within the framework of the Hail Insurance Promotion Act. The planned approach is divided into a theoretical analysis of scientific literature (WP1) and two subsequent empirical analyses. First, in a theoretical literature analysis an overview of the design of similar funding systems in an international context is given and based on this, possible improvement potentials for the Austrian system are identified. Second, based on the theoretical literature analysis, a first empirical analysis identifies key drivers of the development of costs and demand in relation to the insurance premium support. Third, a second empirical analysis shows the individual farm-level effects of subsidized insurance in the current system. Through these 3 outputs, the project intends to also identify improvement potentials in terms of data requirements for effective monitoring. The results of the planned research project therefore represent a well-founded information basis that political decision-makers can use for the further development of the Austrian system of insurance premium support in agriculture.