Since 1 July 2012, the Chair for Sustainable Spatial Development , held by Professor Peter Droege, has been involved in the “Alpstore” research project. Together, project partners from the seven Alpine countries are developing master plans for the implementation of various storage technologies in the Alpine region.
Since 1 July 2012, the Chair for Sustainable Spatial Development , held by Professor Peter Droege, has been involved in the “Alpstore” research project. Together, project partners from the seven Alpine countries are developing master plans for the implementation of various storage technologies in the Alpine region.
The project was initiated in the scope of the Interreg-IVB programme “Alpine Space”, and is being carried out by a consortium of 19 partners from Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France, Italy and Slovenia. In addition to the University of Liechtenstein, three other universities are taking part in the project: the University of Technology of Belfort-Montbéliard (UTBM), the University of Ljubljana (UL) and the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI).
Renewable energy sources and e-mobility
“Alpstore” researches the topics of mobility and storage of renewable energy sources within the context of Alpine development. Sunshine, water and biomass are the Alpine region’s natural capital and are well suited for the production of renewable energy. In addition to intelligent networks, storage systems are becoming an important precondition for a future energy system that is based entirely on renewable energy. Electric vehicles will be an integral part of the future energy system. Used vehicle batteries, for example, can be reused as stationary storage devices to improve the cost-effectiveness of e-mobility. Gas and compressed air are also suitable for fixed means of storage.
Transfer of knowledge from research into practice
Pilot projects are intended to demonstrate the feasibility of mobile and stationary storage in public infrastructures, industrial parks, companies and “smart homes”. With the help of the projects’ results, recommendations will be formulated for planners and political decision-makers. The University of Liechtenstein will be providing and working on results from the completed “Renewable Liechtenstein” project and the “BAER – Bodensee/Lake Constance–Alpine Rhine Valley Energy and Climate Region” research project, which is still in progress.
While the institutions of the EU member states are being supported by the European Union, the University of Liechtenstein’s participation is partly financed by the Liechtenstein government. The project will be running for two and a half years.