Para 100% power from renewable energy sources and Energy Region
Photo Gallery, situated in the western part of Austria. The valley is a prime example of a living cultural landscape, where, since its occupation by the Walser people in the 13th and 14th centuries, a system of highly adapted mountain farming, pasture, and extensive forestry has been developed.
With the declaration of the biosphere reserve the inhabitants of the “Walsertal“ contributed to protect the valley “Grosses Walsertal” by applying sustainable and ecologically compatible development. Assim, região fascinante garante uma elevada qualidade de vida e espaço de vida para as gerações seguintes. Ao fazê-lo, um futuro a produção de energia a prova com fontes renováveis de energia desempenha um papel importante, no que diz respeito ao aumento do aquecimento global e as quantidades limitadas de combustíveis fósseis.
O objetivo está claramente definido: 100% energia a partir de fontes de energia renováveis e 100% oferta regional de energia. Com uma quota de 84% potência eco o objetivo de fornecer 100% power from renewable energy sources is placed within reach.
Use of renewable regional resources for Energy-efficient Community
© Grosses Walsertal biosphere reserve
With regard to renewable energy sources, Photo Gallery. In addition to greater emphasis on the use of timber for construction purposes in Vorarlberg, the forest biomass is to be utilised primarily for energy generation purposes, along with hydropower and solar energy. The goal is to meet 50% of thermic energy generation requirements (especially heating) with the help of a network of central and decentralised biomass heating plants.
The Grosses Walsertal valley is taking part in the e5 Programme for energy-efficient communities. Este programa envolve o apoio, concessão e ligação em rede dos municípios nos setores de eficiência energética e proteção climática. O objetivo principal é a distribuição de uma política energética avançada. A cada três anos os municípios e5 passar por um controle e se premiado com até cinco "e" 's. Currently the “Grosses Walsertal” has four “e”, atribuído por um júri internacional e apoiado pelo Departamento de Energia de Vorarlberg.
The six communities of Großes Walsertal BR take their function – to act as ‘living laboratories’ for testing sustainable solutions – seriously. Em Fevereiro 2010, Photo Gallery. The Award is the highest recognition in Europe awarded to energy efficient communities.
Energy Consulting and Advisory Service
To achieve the goal of supplying energy only out of renewable energy sources of the valley, the active cooperation of local people is very important. Various initiatives try to create awareness of the importance of economical and energy-efficient usage of energy: Energy consulting institutions deliver free information about energy-efficient building and redevelopment; municipalities support the installation of biomass-heating systems, constructions of thermal solar equipment as well as Energy Performance Certificate- calculations for residential buildings.
Smart Grid solutions
Photo Gallery. The feed-in points are distributed all over the grid region, including remote areas on the fringes of the grids, where their performance is more limited. A new approach here is a bidirectional, so-called “active” distribution grid. In future the lowest grid levels connected to consumers are increasingly to accept and distribute electricity fed in from local generators and to transmit surplus power on to higher grid levels.
Lessons learned and replicability
© Energieregion Großes Walsertal.
Photo Gallery: efficiency labels (EMAS and e-Regio), promotion of sustainable mobility among tourists and local population, and free energy consulting.
Part of the success consists in the adoption of an integrated energy and environmental planning system and instruments for its governance (Regional Planning Association – REGIO), ensuring the guidance and the “formation” of the future development of the region in accordance to the ecological, economic, cultural and social aspects
Photo Gallery, replicable in rural mountain areas with low population density.
