With the project "Austrian Forum for Energy and Infrastructure Modelling (ÖFEIM)", the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI) is working together with the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism (BMWET), the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF), and the Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Regions, Climate, Environment and Water Management (BMLUK) to set an important impulse for the evidence-based design of the energy transition in Austria. The consortium consisting of AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Montanuniversität Leoben, and Austrian Energy Agency has been commissioned with the establishment and operation of the forum.
The goal of ÖFEIM is the development of an integrated energy system model for Austria as well as the establishment of a national platform for energy and infrastructure modelling. For the first time, this creates a common scientific reference framework that transparently analyses different future scenarios and supports strategic dialogue between politics, business, science, and public administration.
Well-Founded Orientation for Decisions with Long-Term Impact
The transformation of the energy system is one of the greatest challenges of the coming decades. Decisions on infrastructure, energy supply, and investments must be made today, but their effects often extend far into the future. ÖFEIM creates a reliable and traceable knowledge base for this purpose. The aim is to systematically analyse different development paths and thus provide orientation for a secure, clean, resilient, and competitive energy future.
The basis for this is scientifically founded energy scenarios that map different developments in energy demand, technologies, energy carriers, and infrastructure requirements. They show what effects different political, technological, or economic framework conditions can have on the development of the Austrian energy system and its resilience, cost efficiency, and Austria's competitiveness.
Friederich Kupzog, Head of Center for Energy, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology: "The transformation of the energy system is a societal task and requires reliable analyses that go beyond individual sectors. With ÖFEIM, we are creating the basis for transparently mapping complex interrelationships in the energy system and supporting decision-making processes with scientific evidence. Our goal is to provide a common reference framework for the discussion about Austria's energy future."
Thomas Kienberger, Head of the Chair of Energy Network Technology, Montanuniversität Leoben: "A successful energy transition requires the interaction of technologies, infrastructures, and consumption sectors. With ÖFEIM, we can analyse these interrelationships for the first time in an integrated overall view and thus create sound bases for long-term infrastructure and transformation decisions. In particular, the cross-sectoral consideration makes visible where opportunities, synergies, and challenges for Austria's energy future lie."
Franz Angerer, CEO, Austrian Energy Agency: "ÖFEIM is more than a modelling project. The forum creates a space for structured exchange between science, business, public administration, and other relevant actors. Based on transparent data, common scenarios, and traceable analyses, a sound basis for strategic decisions and a common understanding of the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition emerges."
Common Evidence Base for a Complex Energy System
The transformation of the Austrian energy system is characterised by diverse interrelationships between energy generation, energy consumption, infrastructure, industry, buildings, mobility, and new technologies. These interrelationships require an integrated consideration that goes beyond individual energy sources and sectors.
ÖFEIM addresses precisely this challenge. The forum combines modelling expertise, data expertise, and stakeholder dialogue into a common platform on which different transformation paths can be scientifically analysed, discussed, and further developed. This creates transparent and traceable decision-making bases for the long-term development of the Austrian energy system.
The work of the forum comprises four central areas:
- Scenario Development and Modelling: Development of an integrated energy system model as well as analysis of different transformation paths and system developments.
- Stakeholder Dialogue and Participation: Involvement of science, energy industry, infrastructure operators, industry, public administration, and other relevant actors to promote a common understanding of scenarios and modelling approaches.
- Data Management and Transparency: Establishment of a quality-assured and traceable data basis as well as transparent provision of relevant models and modelling data.
- Knowledge Preparation and Decision Support: Preparation of complex modelling results for different target groups, in particular administration and politics, including via dashboards, scenario comparisons, and other target-group-specific formats.
Platform for Exchange, Analysis, and Strategic Orientation
The Austrian Forum for Energy and Infrastructure Modelling (ÖFEIM) is to develop into a permanent platform for scientific exchange, joint scenario development, and strategic decision support.
This is intended to make different future developments transparent and to make uncertainties and interrelationships visible, thereby creating a reliable basis for decisions.
In this way, the forum supports politics and administration in shaping the long-term transformation of the Austrian energy system in an evidence-based manner and in making investment, infrastructure, and technology decisions on a common knowledge base.
For further information
The ÖFEIM team is available to answer questions about its activities.
General contact: oefeim-stakeholder@energyagency.at