Description
Description (EN): The Danube Region holds huge potential for sustainable generation and storage of renewable energy. However, to date this region is highly dependent on energy imports, while energy efficiency, diversity and renewables share are low. In line with the EU climate targets for 2030 and the EUSDR PA2 goals DanuP-2-Gas will advance transnational energy planning by promoting generation and storage strategies for renewables in the Danube Region by coupling the electric power and gas sector. DanuP-2-Gas will bring together energy agencies, business actors, public authorities and research institutions via the Danube Energy Platform. Based on the platform developed during DTP project ENERGY BARGE it will incorporate all pre-existing tools and i.a. an Atlas, mapping prior unexamined available biomass and energy infrastructure. Further, a pre-feasibility study utilizing an optimization tool for efficient hub design will identify suitable locations for sectors coupling hubs and combination of two idle resources in the Danube region. Unused organic residue (e.g. straw) will be processed to biochar for easy transport along the Danube River and as basis for synthesis gas generation. Adding hydrogen produced from surplus renewable energy allows to upgrade this syngas to renewable natural gas. This will enable storage of surplus energy in the existing gas distribution grid increasing energy security and efficiency. All needed resources are available in the Danube region and the 10 partner countries. Thus, a transnational approach along the main transport route (Danube River) to share these resources is the key. The legal framework influencing the concept will be assessed on individual country level, leading to a transnational strategy with national roadmaps for simple implementation. Finally, impact of DanuP-2-Gas will be ensured via trainings on the developed tools and workshops elaborating future projects and business models with interested stakeholders.
Read more Achievements (EN): LEVERAGING PROJECT RESULTS TO SHAPE POLICY: A CLOSER LOOK AT DANUP-2-GAS PROJECT:
In the ever-evolving landscape of renewable energy and sustainable practices, transnational projects can be instrumental in advancing technological frontiers but also in influencing the policies that drive these transformations. The DanuP-2-Gas project developod concept to speed up the shift from fossil fuels in ten countries in the Danube region. Moreover, it provided a visionary strategy aimed at policymakers and industry stakeholders, showing the future of the power-to-gas sector. In this interview with Astrid Heindel, Research Associate from the Landshut University of Applied Sciences, we delve into the DanuP-2-Gas project's impact, examining how its results have been utilized, their influence on policy decisions, and the challenges encountered along the way.
1. HOW HAVE THE PROJECT RESULTS BEEN USED?
During the DanuP-2-Gas project, we developed an atlas showing the locations of biogenic residues, renewable energy plants and logistical connections. This data can be imported into the DanuP-2-Gas optimization tool, an excel tool that calculates the economic feasibility of a power-to-gas hub for a certain location based on the inserted data. The tool considers production of green hydrogen, biomethane, renewable electricity and heat from biomass as well as biochar. An additional output is a strategy for the future of the power-to-gas sector, targeted at policy makers and industry.
The atlas and the optimization tool were promoted to several municipalities, cities and SMEs in Bavaria. They make use of the data and the optimization tool to facilitate initial planning of power-to-gas hubs and to estimate the economic feasibility. As all data can be adjusted by the user, they do not have to rely on our data alone, but can also insert their own.
2. WAS THE PROJECT'S IMPACT ON POLICY MAKING AS EXPECTED?
The strategy for sector-coupling was discussed with the Government of Lower Bavaria. We elaborated the barriers the industry is facing in advancing power-to-gas technologies in Germany and in Bavaria, and provided solutions how the processes can be facilitated and the industry be supported. Since political procedures depend on many variables, we could not make a direct impact on policy making. However, we are in constant exchange with local policy authorities and hope that our analyses will contribute to the improvement of framework conditions.
3. WAS THERE ANY RESISTANCE OR CHALLENGES IN ADOPTING THE PROJECT RESULTS BY THE POLICY MAKERS?
There is always the difficulty of getting the attention of high level policy makers, as their time is limited and many different interest groups try to get their attention. However, the policy makers we did discuss the project with were very interested, listened to our analyses and provided insights and thoughts about our proposed solutions. So the overall goal of raising awareness of difficulties in the field of sector-coupling and power-to-gas was achieved. Additionally, the knowledge we gained during the project will be used during any policy exchange in the future, as policy interaction is part of our daily work.
4. HOW CAN FUTURE PROJECTS BETTER SUPPORT USE OF THE RESULTS TO DRIVE POSITIVE CHANGE?
One really important takeaway from the project was: Translate everything! Especially on local level, proficiency of the English language is not always given and even if it is, the willingness to read documents and to use tools is higher when they are provided in the national language. It is also very important to create short versions of everything. As time is limited, especially for policy makers, a one to two page overview, ideally with bullet points and illustrations, is way more appealing than a deliverable of several pages.
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Website: http://www.interreg-danube.eu/
Expected Results (EN): Intensity of cooperation of key actors in the programme area in order to contribute to energy security and energy efficiency (survey based composite indicator)
Expected Outputs (EN): DanuP-2-Gas will foster transnational cooperation and synergies among crucial players of the energy sector, research, public administration and businesses in order to enhance diversity of energy sources, storage and distribution strategies for transnational energy networks in the Danube Region. This improved collaboration will result in increased energy security and efficiency. The project will intensify cooperation both in a transnational and vertical approach. Transnational collaboration will provide increased access to knowledge and solutions regarding energy storage and sector coupling, while transnational policy uptake will anchor the project outputs in the entire region. Vertically, cooperation between energy agencies, public authorities, business actors and research institutions will be intensified measurably through close monitoring of the project activities.
Main achievements:
- Danube Energy Platform, where stakeholders from various fields, in the 10 participating countries and beyond, will be brought together.
- Danube Energy Atlas, Tool for Optimizing Sector Coupling Hubs and the Danube region wide Pre-feasibility Study, providing useful information for stakeholders
- knowledge exchange and learning experiences, during trainings on the developed atlas and workshops on future projects, which will intensify local and transnational cooperation between stakeholders.
- strategy for sector coupling solutions to create a common basis for decision-making among stakeholders in the energy sector.
- systematic involvement of business actors through the platform and workshops on future activities where investors can identify promising synergies between regional stakeholders that support implementation of specific hubs following the energy storage concept.In this way a robust environment is established, capable to sprout concepts for the transition to sustainable renewable energy, which will in turn increase energy security and efficiency in the Danube region.
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Thematic information
Specific Objective:
Improve energy security and energy efficiency (short title). Contribute to the energy security and energy efficiency of the region by supporting the development of joint regional storage and distribution solutions and strategies for increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy usage
Thematic Objective:
(07) promoting sustainable transport and removing bottlenecks in key network infrastructures by:
Investment Priority:
(07e) improving energy efficiency and security of supply through the development of smart energy distribution, storage and transmission systems and through the integration of distributed generation from renewable sources
Partners (14)
Lead Partner:
Technologiezentrum Energie der Hochschule Landshut
Address:
Wiesenweg 1, 94099 Ruhstorf an der Rott, Germany
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.tz-energie.de
Total budget:
EUR 417 392.50
ERDF budget:
EUR 354 783.62
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Međunarodni centar za održivi razvoj energetike, voda i okoliša
-
Name:
Međunarodni centar za održivi razvoj energetike, voda i okoliša
Address:
Ivana Lučića 5, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Legal status:
private
Website:
http://www.sdewes.org
Total budget:
EUR 83 630.75
ERDF budget:
EUR 71 086.14
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Regionalni centar za društveno-ekonomski razvoj – Banat Doo
-
Name:
Regionalni centar za društveno-ekonomski razvoj – Banat Doo
Address:
Čarnojevićeva 1, 23000 Banat, Serbia
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.banat.rs
Total budget:
EUR 72 155.00
IPA2 budget:
EUR 61 331.75
-
Sveučilište u Zagrebu Fakultet elektrotehnike i računarstva
-
Name:
Sveučilište u Zagrebu Fakultet elektrotehnike i računarstva
Address:
Unska 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.fer.unizg.hr
Total budget:
EUR 261 464.90
ERDF budget:
EUR 222 245.16
-
Energieinstitut an der Johannes Kepler Universität Linz
-
Name:
Energieinstitut an der Johannes Kepler Universität Linz
Address:
Altenberger Str. 69, 4040 Linz, Austria
Legal status:
private
Website:
http://www.energieinstitut-linz.at
Total budget:
EUR 250 032.59
ERDF budget:
EUR 212 527.70
-
Technische Hochschule Deggendorf
-
Name:
Technische Hochschule Deggendorf
Department:
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Media Technology and Computer Science
Address:
Grafenauer Str. 22, 94078 Freyung, Germany
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.th-deg.de
Total budget:
EUR 195 092.50
ERDF budget:
EUR 165 828.62
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Energetski institut Hrvoje Požar
-
Name:
Energetski institut Hrvoje Požar
Address:
Savska 163, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.eihp.hr
Total budget:
EUR 189 584.00
ERDF budget:
EUR 161 146.40
-
Zavod Energetska agencija za Savinjsko, Šaleško in Koroško
-
Name:
Zavod Energetska agencija za Savinjsko, Šaleško in Koroško
Address:
Koroška cesta 37a, 3320 Velenje, Slovenia
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.kssena.si
Total budget:
EUR 186 619.13
ERDF budget:
EUR 158 626.26
-
MAHART-Szabadkikötő Zrt
-
Name:
MAHART-Szabadkikötő Zrt
Address:
Weiss Manfred ut 5-7, 1211 Budapest, Hungary
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.mahartfreeport.hu
Total budget:
EUR 172 692.00
ERDF budget:
EUR 146 788.20
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Черноморски изследователски енергиен център
-
Name:
Черноморски изследователски енергиен център
Address:
Viktor Grigorovich Str 7, 1606 Sofia, Bulgaria
Legal status:
private
Website:
http://www.bserc.eu
Total budget:
EUR 156 017.34
ERDF budget:
EUR 132 614.74
-
Národná recyklačná agentúra Slovensko
-
Name:
Národná recyklačná agentúra Slovensko
Address:
A.Hlinku 2568/33, 96001 Zvolen, Slovakia
Legal status:
private
Website:
http://www.narask.sk
Total budget:
EUR 155 841.42
ERDF budget:
EUR 132 465.21
-
URBASOFIA SRL
-
Name:
URBASOFIA SRL
Address:
Str. Colentina 11, 021154 Bucharest, Romania
Legal status:
private
Website:
http://www.urbasofia.eu
Total budget:
EUR 149 757.16
ERDF budget:
EUR 127 293.59
-
Vysoká škola technická a ekonomická v Českých Budějovicích
-
Name:
Vysoká škola technická a ekonomická v Českých Budějovicích
Address:
Okružní 517/10, 37001 Budějovice, Czech Republic
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.vstecb.cz
Total budget:
EUR 136 500.00
ERDF budget:
EUR 116 025.00
-
Tolna Megyei Fejlesztési Ügynökség Nonprofit Közhasznú Kft.
-
Name:
Tolna Megyei Fejlesztési Ügynökség Nonprofit Közhasznú Kft.
Address:
Szent István tér 11-13, H-7100 Szekszárd, Hungary
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.tolnamegye.hu
Total budget:
EUR 126 947.56
ERDF budget:
EUR 107 905.43
