Foto: © Getty-963088232 | shutterstock.com/prochassonfrederic
CE4T - Clean Energy for Tourism: Project Successes
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Foto: © Getty-963088232 | shutterstock.com/prochassonfrederic
Presentation of the Project
The approach of "Clean Energy for Tourism" (CE4T) is the integrative, systemic optimization of the three central areas: power supply system, electricity markets, and major consumers in the tourism industry.
The goal of the project was to promote decarbonization in ski resorts. This was achieved through the development and practical testing of optimization algorithms, related interfaces, and an ICT framework for maximum energy efficiency. Additionally, it involved the utilization of all flexibility options and increased integration of renewable energy sources.
A systemic approach and appropriate technologies for decarbonizing the Austrian winter tourism industry aim to create flexibility for the power grid and the electricity market. This includes the integration of renewable energies while considering the energy needs of the tourism infrastructure.
A guideline has been developed focusing on the mentioned project priorities. It takes into account ongoing transformations and aids in the search for new approaches, products, and technologies for ski resorts.
The demonstration sites are located in the Austrian federal states of Salzburg and Tyrol. Eight test regions are within the network area of Salzburg Netz (including three ski resort operators in Saalbach and Hinterglemm), and one is in the network area of TINETZ.
In addition to energy prices and supply security, the following key aspects have been examined:
Development of a prototype for a highly automated monitoring and energy management system.
Opportunities for additional electricity generation from renewable energy sources.
Optimization of energy costs and development of a framework for integrating additional renewable energies (identifying flexibility potentials and SCADA automation).
Grid-friendly operation.
Optimization: overall system and scenario assessment.
Regulatory evaluation, cost-benefit analysis, and business models.
Identification of new energy services and products.
Living lab, stakeholder involvement, and development of key performance indicators.
Transferability to energy-intensive industries.
To support the energy transition and address the aforementioned priorities, a complex interaction among various stakeholders is required. In the CE4T project, these stakeholders included ski resort operators, energy providers, network operators, technology providers, regional actors, and representatives from the research sector. Technical, legal, and economic aspects were taken into account, which relate to providing flexibility to increase self-sufficiency and decarbonization of ski resorts, enabling flexibility for electricity markets and grid operation, including the required technological developments.
A wide range of methods were applied for the project's execution, ranging from scientific support to technology development and demonstration:
- Living labs
- Modeling and simulation
- Scenario development
- Optimisation
- Demonstration (field testing)
- Product development
- Data analytics
- Scientific support methods
- KPI development and evaluation
- Cost-benefit analysis
- Scalability and replicability analysis.
Recomendations
The technologies and solutions developed in CE4T can be transferred to other tourism regions within and outside Austria, as well as to other energy-intensive industries. The collaboration between major energy consumers (e.g., industrial facilities), network operators, and energy providers needs to be optimized for all these applications (particularly in terms of technology development). The resulting recommendations have been summarized for the following stakeholder groups and can be found in the report:
- Ski resort operators and regional actors.
- Energy supply companies.
- Technology development companies.
- Electricity market regulation/ distribution network operator issues/ legal aspects.
The following partners participated in the research project:
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH
- BBSH Bergbahnen Saalbach-Hinterglemm GmbH
- Bergbahnen Fieberbrunn GmbH
- BEST – Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies GmbH
- Faradis GmbH
- Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG
- Hinterglemmer Bergbahnen GmbH
- Leoganger Bergbahnen GmbH
- Montanuniversität Leoben – Lehrstuhl für Energieverbundtechnik
- Oberpinzgauer Fremdenverkehrsförderungs- und Bergbahnen – AG
- Rauriser Hochalmbahnen AG
- Saalbacher Bergbahnen GmbH
- Salzburg AG für Energie, Verkehr und Telekommunikation
- sattler energie consulting GmbH
- Schmittenhöhebahn AG
- World-Direct eBusiness solutions GmbH