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 lecture:

• 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, Senior Researcher at the International Energy Research Centre (IERC), Ireland
Response 1: Steffen Robbi, CEO of Digital Findet Stadt GmbH
Response 2: Salvatore Carlucci, Professor, Head of the Sustainable Built Environment Group at The Cyprus Institute
Chair: Alexander Passer, Professor of Sustainable Construction at TU Graz
Host: Michael Monsberger, Vice Rector Infrastructure and Sustainability 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.

We invite you to register for onsite or online participation before 16 April 2024.

• 10th lecture: Time: Thursday, 23 May 2024, 19:00-21:00 CEST. Venue: Aula, TU Graz

Topic: How to Ensure Sustainable Land-use while enhancing Renewable Energy Production in Europe
Guest lecture by Teresa Ponce de Leão, LNEG (tbc)
Response 1: Sophie Germann, Biodiversa+ (tbc)
Response 2: Franz Prettenthaler, Joanneum Research- LIFE
Chair: Rupert Baumgartner, Karl-Franzens University of Graz
Host: Horst Bischof, Rector of TU Graz

Europe is one of the most intensively used landmasses on the globe, with the highest share of land used for agriculture, forests and, to a lesser extent, urban areas and infrastructure. The way we use this invaluable resource for industry, food and energy production has significant impacts on biodiversity and human well-being on Earth. The lecture will discuss the EU renaturing strategy along with the climate effects of an increased land-take trend in Europe, partly caused by increased renewable energy production, as well as the role of organic soils for storing large quantities of carbon. The lecture will also highlight the importance of long-term soil management on the basis of the EU soil strategy and present land and ecosystem accounting tools. EIT KIC Climate will illustrate how systemic intervention can work in practice.

We invite you to register for onsite or online participation before 21 May 2024.

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