O.Oe. Energiesparverband

106 companies

Regional Government of Upper Austria

The aim of the Oekoenergie-Cluster OEC is to foster innovation and competitiveness of green-energy - related businesses and thereby to contribute to a positive market trend in the field of renewable energies.

OEC's activities cover the following areas: Information and Communication, Training, Research and Development, Co-operation, Export, Marketing and Public Relations

Through the activities of the OEC itself and the cooperation between the OEC-companies, two very successful projects in the field of industry standards have been carried out.

Five biomass boiler producing companies agreed – together with the University of Linz – to evaluate the technical documentation of their automatic wood-pellets boiler systems. Based on the results of the study, the user manuals of the heating systems were significantly improved. Now the end users and owners of the systems (domestic households) are able to better understand and better operate their heating systems (decreases costs and environmental impacts, increases consumer satisfaction). The companies involved were very pleased with the outcome of the project which was managed by the OEC and finished in spring 2001 and have agreed to continue their efforts in this field.

14 of the leading solar collector producers developed common quality standards for solar collector systems for multi-family houses. The project was coordinated by the OEC, lasted about 8 months and resulted in a highly practical planning manual for large solar collector systems. All companies involved have agreed to apply these standards on all their new projects.

The OEC is an important activity in the implementation of the energy strategy and action programme of the region of Upper Austria. Presently, renewable energy sources provide 30 % of the total energy demand of this highly industrialised region. Improving the number of market actors and the quality of their products and services is seen as a strategy to achieving the energy policy goals. These activities also strongly support a number of EU policies, such the "White Paper on Renewable Energy Sources", and Austria's national Kyoto commitments.

The network will be expanded to include companies concentrating on energy efficiency. It will be expanded in geographical terms as well.

Recent market trends show the enormous growth potential of products and services in the field of renewable energy businesses. Upper Austrian companies are on their way to becoming market leaders with their products in Austria, Germany and the surrounding countries. The OEC will give them vital support to reach this target.

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