- Target: Energy self-sufficient by 2030
- Status: In progress
- RES: Hydropower and biomass energy.
- Implementation: The 13 rural municipalities of the Austrian region of Waldviertler Kernland joined the Austrian initiative Climate and Energy Model Regions in 2010. Today, the region aims to become energy self-sufficient by 2030. This will mean meeting the regional demand for electricity, heat and mobility by only using energy derived from renewable sources. In order to achieve this target it will must extend the regional renewable energy supply from 256 MWh to 409 MWh per year. At the same time the total regional energy demand must decrease from 666 MWh to 409 MWh per year. The 100% target has its origins in a climate protection initiative which was nationally funded by the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund from 2009 to 2015. In 2011, many regional studies were conducted including an energy inventory, an energy plan with an implementation strategy, and a potential study for energy saving, energy efficiency and renewable energy production. Since then, an annual technical and monitoring report on regional activities is prepared and submitted. An energy team is in place consisting of a chairman, an energy manager, local mayors and councillors, municipal energy experts and local entrepreneurs. They would hold 4 – 5 regional technical meetings each year to select and implement the necessary renewable energy infrastructure and energy efficiency projects. Waldviertler Kernland is technically supported by the regional energy agency Energieagentur der Regionen and by Climate Alliance Austria.
- Population: 13,300
- Area: 499 km2
- Link: (In German) https://www.rm-waldviertel.at/index.php?channel=21
- German
- German