Monitoring & Innovation Management

The NEFI_Lab enables all interested parties to participate in the energy transition in industry. It creates the framework conditions for identifying future challenges (known as “white spots”) in the transformation of the industrial energy system and supports industry in using these as opportunities. From intensively conducted dialogues with representatives of Austrian industry, the path to industrial decarbonisation is described using various scenarios.

The NEFI Innovation process

The “White Spots” are coloured in terms of content and defined in greater depth as part of the innovation process in the NEFI_Lab. This results in the development of ambitious projects that demonstrate the innovative technologies for decarbonising the industrial landscape “Made in Austria”.

Open Cycles & Project Cycles

At NEFI we are always looking for new ways to advance the decarbonisation of industry in Austria while at the same time improving the national value chain. We are currently pursuing many different ideas and proposals in the ten “Open Cycles” defined below. These are intensively discussed and refined in expert panels in cooperation with industrial partners before continuing their successful course as a project in one of our partner companies within the framework of a “Project Cycles”.

Open Cycle<strong><br />
Bioenergy</strong>

Open Cycle
Bioenergy

Open Cycle Bioenergy

To increase the share of renewable energy sources for industrial use, biomass resources are subject of an economic analysis and a supply of non-classical biomass fuels is also being investigated. This is also intended to improve the interaction between companies as biomass sinks and sources and thus bring about a long-term optimisation and standardisation of the biomass supply.

Open Cycle<strong><br />
AustroStorage</strong>

Open Cycle
AustroStorage

Open Cycle AustroStorage

The implementation of storage systems in industrial energy systems is becoming increasingly important. This OC deals with the investigation and analysis of different storage technologies in order to establish industrial applications and new business models. The technologies range from thermal and electrical storage to pressure storage.

Open Cycle<strong><br />
Wastewater</strong>

Open Cycle
Wastewater

Open Cycle Wastewater

Wastewater treatment plants are the largest consumers of energy in the civil sector or at municipal level. At the same time, they hold great potential for increasing energy efficiency, integrating new process structures, flexibility and the integration of renewable energies. These are the thematic areas which are dealt with in this OC.

Open Cycle<strong><br />
Funding & Financial Opportunities</strong>

Open Cycle
Funding & Financial Opportunities

Open Cycle Funding & Financial Opportunities

The OC8 was formed to provide expertise and know-how in the field of project finance. In particular, this knowledge should serve to close the gap for the transition from research projects to industrial showcase and demonstration projects. This OC is therefore to be seen as a service, which shows the advantages and disadvantages of different financing instruments for research projects on the basis of an elaborated portfolio.

NEFI scenario development

In the NEFI_Lab, three scenarios are being created to describe the path to complete decarbonisation of the industrial energy system. The integration of stakeholders from all Austrian industrial sectors plays a particularly important role.
With the „NEFI Industry Dialogue Sessions“ the NEFI_Lab offers the appropriate framework. Representatives of leading Austrian companies will discuss with the experts of the AIT – Austrian Institute for Technology and of the Chair of Energy Compound Technology at the University of Leoben, which technologies could be used in the future in a targeted and economically realistic manner in the respective sectors.

The Business-as-Usual-Scenario (BAU) serves to update current trends using the technologies currently available and measures that have already been implemented. The analysis of global, European and national studies will form the basis for the assessment of the technologies used in each industrial sub-sector.
The development of the Mitigation-Scenarios (MGS) s based on the #emission2030 of the Austrian climate and energy strategy and the current EU targets. The resulting trends are considered up to 2050. “Best Available Technologies” (BAT) and “Breakthrough Technologies” (BTT) with a short to medium-term implementation horizon are used as a basis for modelling in this scenario.

In the Deep-Decarbonization-Scenarios (DCS) a backcasting method is carried out based on the year 2050. This will identify which technologies and trends need to be used to achieve the NEFI targets. Breakthrough technologies with significant reduction potentials in terms of C0₂ emissions and energy requirements will be considered in particular.

Are you interested in the NEFI Industry Dialogue Sessions?

In order to actively involve your company in the dialogue on the implementation of climate targets simply contact us!

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