Flagship Initiatives & Projects

Information sessions on energy communities were Almenland at the Almenland Nature Park on the following days:

• Information Evening Hosted by the “Der Sonne Näher” Energy Community
  Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 7:00 p.m., Postwirt Tober, Fladnitzer Straße 61, 8162 Passail
  More info
• Information Evening Hosted by the Weiz Nord Energy Cooperative
  Thursday, September 18, 2025, 6:00 p.m. at the Kultursaal Passail, Weizer Straße 44, 8162 Passail
  More information

We launched a series of free energy consultation days in all six municipalities of the Almenland Nature Park Climate and Energy Model Region. The first energy consultation day took place in Gasen:

• Gasen Municipal Office, Dorfplatz 1, 8616 Gasen
• Friday, March 14, 2025, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Our experts—Franz Haberhofer from Regionalenergie Steiermark and our KEM Manager Martin Auer—are here to advise you on:

• Energy Consulting & Current Incentives
• Heating System Replacement, Solar Power, and Energy Storage
• Energy Communities & E-Mobility
• Car-sharing & much more!

Following the kickoff in Gasen, the Energy Information Days continued in the other five municipalities as well. 

Come by and get valuable information for a sustainable future!

We are part of the flagship project “Skilled Labor Shortage in the Energy Transition Sector with Role Clarification for the KEM Manager.”

The goal of the project is to strengthen the KEM region by attracting new workers and skilled professionals to climate-related occupations (particularly in connection with the Renewable Energy Expansion Act and the Renewable Heat Act), while simultaneously clarifying and strengthening the role of KEM managers in this new and challenging field. The target audience for this flagship project includes companies in the region as well as young people and adults who wish to pursue a career in the field of the energy transition.

Based on an online survey and two systemic constellations, a regional strategy will be developed and an implementation measure carried out.

• Project period: June 2024 through May 2025
• Project Sponsor: SIKAlp Association—Institute for Strengthening Identity and Climate Protection in the Alpine Region
• External Advisors: Christian Luttenberger, Markus Berchtold

KEMs involved:

• KEM Fürstenfeld Eco-Energy Region, Joachim Friessnig, M.A.
• KEM Climate-Friendly Almenland Nature Park, Mag. Martin Auer
• KEM Future Stubai Valley, Roland Zankl, M.A.
• KEM KLIMAFIT Wipptal, Claudia Hackhofer

What do you do with a small appliance or garden tool that no longer works? Throw it away? No, thanks!

The Repair Café is back for its 7th edition, and once again, you’ll have the chance to bring in broken items and fix them together!

• Friday, May 10, 2024
• 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
• Breitenau/H. Volunteer Fire Department Station (St. Jakob 12, 8614 Breitenau am Hochlantsch)

Repair Bonus: Repair your electronic devices. Save up to 50% on costs and help protect the environment! For more information and details, visit www.reparaturbonus.at.

KEM Manager Martin Auer provides information on current federal and state incentives in the areas of electricity, heating, mobility, and building retrofits.

• Wednesday, March 13, 2024
• 7:00 p.m.
• St. Kathrein am Offenegg Parish Workshop

Information & Registration:

• Municipal Office | 03179/8231 | gde@st-kathrein-offenegg.gv.at
• Robert Santner | 0677/62784540 | santner@almenland.at 
• Hannah Peßl | 0664/9260662 | hannah.pessl@almenland.at

Over the past 12 months, we at KEM Management, together with five other KEMs in Austria, have addressed complex issues using the methods of “systemic coaching” and “systemic constellations.” The project was funded by the Climate and Energy Fund and carried out as part of the “KEM Flagship Projects” program. Topics included, among others, fostering enthusiasm for climate protection among young people, the role of KEM management, behavioral changes among citizens and decision-makers, addressing vacant properties, and the renovation of buildings.

Project Information:

• Project Period: February 15, 2023 – February 14, 2024

Work Packages:

• 8 monthly systemic coaching sessions
• 2 systemic constellations
• 1 Practical Guide “STARK with SYSTEM”
• 1 Nationwide Workshop on Dissemination for KEM Managers

The project yielded valuable insights and identified success factors that will help us successfully implement our measures. At the same time, the project helped us gain new perspectives and improved our ability to fulfill the role of KEM manager even more effectively.

Click here for the final report

With the online kick-off workshop on March 20, 2023, we launched the KEM flagship project “STARK mit SYSTEM” together with the project managers from the SIKAlp association and the other 21 participating KEMs.

The KEM flagship project “STARK mit SYSTEM” is based on the recognition that KEM managers face a heavy workload and aims to support them through systemic guidance (8 systemic coaching sessions, 2 systemic constellations).

On the path to 100% renewable energy, some difficult challenges have so far proven impossible to solve using conventional methods. The reasons for these roadblocks are complex; a systemic perspective makes it possible to gain an overview and thereby find new solutions.

For “my” KEM, I hope to receive support in implementing our measures, to strengthen our positive working relationships within the KEM, to gain new perspectives, and thereby to better maintain a balance in my role as a KEM manager.

Project Information:

• Project Period: February 15, 2023 – February 14, 2024

Work Packages:

• 8 monthly systemic coaching sessions
• 2 systemic constellations
• 1 Practical Guide “STARK with SYSTEM”
• 1 Nationwide Workshop on Dissemination for KEM Managers

This project is funded by the Climate and Energy Fund and is being carried out as part of the “KEM Flagship Projects” program.

Climate and Energy Model Region Managers Receive a New Advisory Tool

As part of the flagship project “Quick BIO-NET,” a quick-check tool was developed for the initial analysis of local heating networks. This tool enables easy benchmarking and assessment of the current status of local or district heating networks. By entering just a few parameters of the heating plant, the tool analyzes the various options for integrating new renewable energy technologies—such as solar thermal, photovoltaics, buffer storage, combined heat and power (CHP), or even waste heat from industry and commerce. The tool’s results form the basis for decisions regarding the further development and optimization of the heating plant. As part of the project, case studies from the participating climate and energy model regions were calculated and, in some cases, their implementation has already been documented.

The Climate and Energy Model Region Managers are provided with the Quick Check Tool, a resource that offers initial insights into issues such as the economic viability of the overall system, winter and/or summer operation with solar integration, buffer storage, PV, CHP, etc., as well as grid expansion. This forms the basis for a policy decision and further detailed planning!

The project team—comprising AEE INTEC, the Weiz Innovation Center, KEM Energiekultur Kulmland, KEM Holzwelt Murau, and KEM Naturpark Almenland received funding through the Climate and Energy Fund.