AIT and Wienerberger win the Net-Zero Industries Award
The NEFI research project GreenBricks has been honoured with the Mission Innovation Net-Zero Industries Award in the “Outstanding Project” category. The award ceremony took place on April 10th, 2026 as part of the International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum (IVECF) at the Hofburg in Vienna.
As part of GreenBricks, an innovative energy concept for brick production was developed and successfully implemented at Wienerberger’s Uttendorf site in Upper Austria. The project demonstrates impressively how the combination of electrification, digitalisation and the use of heat pump technologies can enable an almost emission-free industrial production process. CO₂ emissions were reduced by up to 90 per cent and energy demand lowered by around 30 per cent. A key milestone is the world’s largest industrial electric kiln for brick production, which is sustainably transforming industrial energy demand. The energy required comes entirely from renewable sources, including the company’s own photovoltaic system.
The project is part of the NEFI – New Energy for Industry innovation network, which is funded by the Climate and Energy Fund and the federal provinces of Upper Austria and Styria, and drives the decarbonisation of industry forward. This network creates ideal conditions for testing new technologies directly within companies and bringing them rapidly into implementation.
A flagship project for industrial transformation
GreenBricks is regarded as one of Europe’s leading demonstration projects for the transformation of energy-intensive industries. At its core is the world’s largest industrial electric kiln for brick production, complemented by innovative drying processes with integrated heat pumps and the use of digital planning and simulation tools. The holistic consideration of the production chain – from raw materials and drying through to the firing process – enables sustainable transformation while maintaining product quality and competitiveness.
Strong partnership between research and industry
Andreas Kugi, Scientific Director of AIT Austrian Institute of Technology:
“The award for GreenBricks shows that innovative technologies and digital planning methods are crucial levers for the sustainable transformation of industry and are also receiving international recognition. Close collaboration between research and industry is essential in order to successfully implement such transformation processes and thereby strengthen competitiveness.”
Johannes Rath, Chief Technical Officer of Wienerberger Building Solutions:
“With GreenBricks, we are setting a new benchmark for the sustainable transformation of brick production. The project shows that climate-friendly technologies are already industrially feasible today and can also deliver economic benefits. Together with AIT, we are driving forward innovations that are setting the course for the entire sector.”
The Net-Zero Industries Mission Award as an international distinction
The Mission Innovation Net-Zero Industries Award recognises projects and initiatives worldwide that make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in energy-intensive industries. Its aim is to make innovative solutions more visible and to promote their international scaling. The award underlines GreenBricks’ role as a lighthouse project for the industrial energy transition, while also strengthening Austria’s international position as a centre of innovation.
About GreenBricks
As part of the NEFI GreenBricks project, AIT developed an integrated energy concept for brick production. Through the use of an electrified high-temperature process, the utilisation of industrial waste heat by means of heat pumps, and digital twins to optimise operations, a significant reduction in emissions and energy consumption was achieved. The project serves as a scalable model for the transformation of further energy-intensive industries.
About NEFI – New Energy for Industry
The GreenBricks research project is part of the NEFI – New Energy for Industry innovation network, which is driving forward the decarbonisation of the industrial energy system with key technologies ‘made in Austria’ in the Energy Model Region. The NEFI innovation network has been formed by a consortium comprising AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Montanuniversität Leoben, OÖ Energiesparverband and the Upper Austrian business agency Business Upper Austria, bringing together extensive experience in energy research and project implementation.