KLIRES

Integrated regional energy system planning for a resilient energy future for Austria in the context of climate change

Energy systems face major challenges: they must be decarbonized while simultaneously guaranteeing a secure energy supply. This requires greater integration of electricity, heating/cooling, and renewable gases, as well as the expansion of weather-dependent renewable energies such as hydropower, wind, and photovoltaics. Weather-related fluctuations in generation and consumption necessitate not only the expansion of renewables but also greater system flexibility and targeted, cost-efficient infrastructure development. Since the impacts of climate change vary regionally, regional climate projections are crucial for identifying risks and opportunities and enabling integrated planning. 

Project goals

The KLIRES project aims to develop site-specific and integrated planning concepts for regional energy systems, thereby promoting a resilient and climate-fit energy future in Austria. The latest climate research findings (CMIP6/ÖKS26) are combined with innovative energy system planning methods. Electricity, heat/cooling, and renewable gases are considered holistically, and climate impacts are systematically analyzed in terms of supply and demand.

Four case studies—the Austrian electricity system and regional integrated energy systems in Salzburg, Vienna, and Linz—provide scalable and transferable results. The focus is on climate impacts, security of supply, resilience, and cost-effective adaptation strategies.

Role of AIT

• Project coordination
• Development of a modular modelling framework for integrated energy systems based on the AIT simulation toolbox IESopt, including case-study-specific modules.
• Development of integrated planning concepts that consider regional specificities, conflicting targets, and climate-induced extreme events.
• Processing and analysis of climate data for energy systems as well as validation of planning concepts through model-based analyses of case studies via simulations of different climate scenarios to derive robust solutions, considering uncertainties in climate and weather data.
• Analysis of climate-related risks and vulnerabilities using GIS-based methods and development of site-specific adaptation strategies.
• Active involvement of relevant stakeholders through workshops, focus groups, and discussions to ensure practical relevance and acceptance.
• Development of practice-oriented recommendations and a guideline for the transferability of project results for climate-resilient integrated regional energy systems.

Funding

This project is funded by the Climate and Energy Fund and the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure as part of the Energy Research Programme 2025.