Regional potential for CSSC implementation

Regional Analyses on CSSC potential in the Danube Region were completed with the technical support of the project partners having as main goal to provide a basic analysis of development demand of urban energy systems and an assessment of local potential for CSSC solutions in each CSSC LAB project partner region.

All regional project partners gathered data from already existing regional sources of specific information in order to describe the regional status quo of the CSSC potential in each participating region thus identifying gaps concerning energy storage and sector coupling issues, particularly in the urban context detailing the specific challenges and needs in the sector.

More specifically, the analyses focused on 19 small to medium-sized target cities in Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Montenegro, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. These cities were selected because of their representative nature and their CSSC potential, making it possible to draw general conclusions about the Danube Region as a whole.

The regional analyses process represents also the first step in elaborating a sound CCSC related regional action plan to be implemented in the different European regions.

Highlights of the potential analyses

The analyses revealed that substantial differences exist between the countries in the Danube Region in terms of the current application of CSSC solutions as well as their actual potential.  One explanation could be the different development stages of the countries` energy sectors. In Western Europe, energy is treated as a key economic and political domain in a country’s development, thus benefitting from a steady flow of investment by decision-makers which led to testing and uptake of innovative technologies.  This trend is not as apparent in Eastern Europe even though there is growing willingness to develop energy strategies in line with EU policies. 

The analyses indicate an uneven level of ambition at the strategic level. There are more ambitious countries such as Austria which set to achieve carbon neutrality in 2040, Germany regularly amending the Renewable Energy Sources Act and Slovenia which issued the New Electricity Supply Act that includes sector coupling and energy storage. Next to these countries Croatia the development strategies consider the improvement of the energy sector including CSSC solutions, Bulgaria is planning a new energy law for CSSC technologies and Romania has adopted the National Plan for Energy and Climate Change 2030, which endorses CSSC technologies. On the other hand, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Moldova, are lagging behind in comparison, but laws and regulation that enhance RES production are in sight to be adopted. 

The analyses also showcased existing applications of several types of technologies a few of them with innovative character. In all regions, there are battery and thermal storage projects, which help balance the energy system and complement the production of renewable energy. In what the innovative applications are concerned, the analyses revealed that Germany is applying mechanical and ice storage, among others. Sector coupling examples are mostly related to power to thermal and power to mobility. There are also several bigger scale projects in industry of the heat to power type. In advanced countries such as Germany, there are sector coupling examples involving H2 production. In Austria the use of custom-made software based on industrial grade automation system bundles medium scale flexibility assets. 

From the economic perspective energy storage and sector coupling related projects are very similar in all regions. They are mostly pilot projects as their economic competitiveness is limited but the investment costs are expected to fall, which will make them more economically viable and enhance their uptake on a wider scale. All regions concluded that subsidies and financing programmes are the main factors that will influence the future development of the filed.

There is potential for storage technologies in each city targeted by the project partners and a need to couple different sectors when it comes to energy consumption. Technologies such as lithium-ion batteries, pumped hydropower and flywheels were considered for city storage while for sector coupling, the potential included power to heating and cooling in buildings, district heating and industry. The development of regional energy strategies will promote CSSC in each country and ensure the necessary visibility at the political level. 

Croatia


Country: Croatia 

Region: The Urban Agglomeration Zagreb

Partners in charge: Northwest Croatia Regional Energy Agency and the Zagreb County

Austria

Country: Austria (put picture as well)

Region: Südburgenland

Partners in charge: ConPlusUltra GmbH, Energie Kompass GmbH, solar.one Immo GmbH

 

Slovenia

Country: Slovenia

Region: Podravje

Partners in charge: Local Energy Agency Spodnje Podravje

Bulgaria

Country: Bulgaria 

Region: Varna

Partners in charge: Union of Bulgarian Black Sea Local Authorities – UBBSL

Romania

Country: Romania

Region: Alba County

Partners in charge: Alba Local Energy Agency - ALEA

Czech Republic

Country: The Czech Republic 

Region: The Czech Republic

Partners in charge: AgEnDa z.s

Slovakia

Country: Slovakia 

Region: Bratislava

Partners in charge: Slovenská technická univerzita v Bratislave

Germany

Country: Germany 

Region: Baden-Württemberg

Partners in charge: Bodensee-Stiftung and Energieagentur Regio Freiburg GmbH

Bosnia and Herzgovina

Country: Bosnia and Herzgovina 

Region: Canton Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Partner in charge: Sarajevo Economic Region Development Agency SERDA

Montenegro

Country: Montenegro 

Region: Montenegro

Partner in charge: Inovaciono preduzetnički centar Tehnopolis

Moldova

Country: Moldova 

Region: Moldova

Partner in charge: Cross-border Cooperation and European Integration Agency

Demo sites

Croatia

Slovenia

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