Topic: Sustainable Energy Innovation Systems for Climate Neutrality

Delivery mode: The lectures will be delivered in person at the Auditorium (Aula) of the Graz University of Technology, Rechbauerstraße 12, Austria, and live streamed online on Thursdays from 19:00 to 21:00 CET.

Aim: The EU is at the forefront of the global energy transformation, but while it has made great strides in reducing GHG emissions, it still has much work to do to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. To decarbonise our economy and improve its sustainability, we must understand how different societal actors can mutually influence and support each other in the transformation process. The new ESEIA lecture series aims to provide the opportunity for intensive open debate on climate and energy transformation, highlighting the viewpoints of the main actors in science, education and training, business, politics, the media, and civil society. Check out our flyer for more information.

Key topics addressed:

• Smart energy systems for a sustainable future
• Decarbonisation of Energy-Intensive Industries (EIIs)
• New European Bauhaus: sustainable aesthetics in the built environment
• Sustainable mobility for urban resilience
• The social aspects of the energy transition

Upcoming lectures:

• 8th lecture: Time: Thursday, 16 November 2023, 19:00-21:00 CET. Venue: Aula, TU Graz

Topic: Smart Integration of Sustainable Mobility Solutions for Urban Areas
Guest lecture by Judith O’Meara, Director of Munich Urban Colab, EIT Urban Mobility KIC
Response 1: Mark Perz, Head of Mobility & Leisure at Holding Graz
Response 2: Peter Gspaltl, Managing Director of Verkehrsverbund Steiermark GmbH
Chair: Martin Hofstetter, Researcher at the Institute of Automotive Engineering at TU Graz
Host: Martin Fellendorf, Professor at the Institute of Highway Engineering and Transport Planning at TU Graz

Over 50% of the world’s population lives in cities. As cities grow, so do the mobility challenges: traffic congestion, increasing GHG emissions, and inefficient transport systems. Addressing these challenges is a pressing and highly complex task that requires collaboration and innovative approaches from different stakeholders, including governments, municipalities, city councils, and service providers. Our invited lecturer will delve into this subject, explaining why we need smart mobility solutions to make cities more sustainable. From electric vehicles to mobility-as-a-service, she will also discuss how these solutions can revolutionize transportation, reduce emissions, and improve overall accessibility and convenience. Following the lecture, we will hear from two respondents, who will present the measures already in place and share their perspectives on further opportunities and challenges for reshaping urban mobility in the Austrian City of Graz and the Styrian region.

Register here to attend!

• 9th lecture: Time: Thursday, 18 April 2024, 19:00-21:00 CEST. Venue: Aula, TU Graz

Topic: Advanced Tools for Planning and Management of Climate Neutral Buildings
Guest lecture by Carlos Ochoa, Building Energy Senior Researcher at the International Energy Research Centre (IERC) at Tyndall National Institute, Ireland (online)
Response 1: Steffen Robbi, CEO of Digital Findet Stadt GmbH
Response 2: Birgit Jandl, CEO of Lendmark GmbH
Chair: Alexander Passer, Professor at the Institute of Technology and Testing of Construction Materials at TU Graz
Host: Michael Monsberger, Professor at the Institute of Building Physics, Services, and Construction at TU Graz

Much care is needed to design, construct, and renovate in a climate neutral way ensuring circular economy according to EU Climate laws. Even more so if what is at stake is the overall quality of the building and the comfort and well-being of the people who use it. Building managers and architects are looking for improved building management systems embracing a life-cycle approach, as well as improved tools for energy management, environmental performance, renovation optimization, and investment planning. The lecture will discuss how to break down climate targets to the building level by reducing grey and operational emissions and which role advanced tools such as Digital Twins and advanced BIM systems can play. The main lecture is followed by a response which will shed light on the effects of digitalization on building value chains, especially SMEs. The second response will present the City of Graz ‘lendmark’ which is the first EU taxonomy conform building in the City of Graz.

Further information will be provided in due course.

Who is it for: European SMEs, local and regional governments, researchers from HEIs and ROs, and post-graduate students.

Registration: Registration for onsite or online participation is required.

Past ESEIA Lecture Series events: More information about past events in the ESEIA Lecture Series is available here.

Contact: 

• ESEIA Team: office@eseia.eu