Agri.Solar
Project name: | Agri. Solar - Evaluating Expansion Options in the Agri-Solar Energy Basis under Climate Change in Austria |
Project leader: | Karl Steininger |
Project team: | Andreas Gobiet Thomas Loibnegger Christoph Schmid Thomas Trink |
Partners: | Joanneum Research, Institute of Technology and Regional policy ICCS Hawaii |
Sponsor: | Österreichische Nationalbank, Jubiliäumsfonds |
Duration: | Austrian National Bank, Research Fund |
Abstract:
Both at the European and Austrian level political objectives claim a significant increase in the share of renewable energy supply. In this project we evaluate different options of expansion in renewable energy products grown on agricultural land. We focus first on which of the various cultures are advisable for Austria under future climate change conditions. Second we analyse in detail the economic implications of such a transition in land use and crop use for the energy sector in competition with (material) use in other sectors.
Since local climate change and economic impacts vary across regions, we apply our analysis to one particular focus region, the wider Feldbach region. We develop a multi-region computable general equilibrium model and make use of a rich data set on agriculturally relevant parameters and future climate change scenarios. The method developed can serve as a role model for other Austrian regions.