Together with partners from the energy, industry, research and media sectors, we were able to gain fascinating insights into one of Europe’s most innovative energy regions. The scientific energy trip – organised by the Energieinstitut an der JKU Linz in cooperation with Energie AG OÖ – impressively demonstrated the Basque Country’s consistent commitment to areas such as energy storage (hydrogen, batteries) and digitalisation.
Our stops included CIDETEC, with its world-class battery research; TECNALIA Research & Innovation, with its state-of-the-art H₂ laboratory; the BASQUENERGY Cluster; and other research and innovation facilities such as Iberdrola’s Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub and Vicomtech’s AI research.
It was particularly fascinating to see how topics such as hydrogen, smart grids, AI, battery storage and industrial decarbonisation are not considered in isolation there, but as part of a larger energy system. As a research institution, it is precisely this systemic perspective that concerns us: How do technologies interact? What framework conditions are needed? And how does research actually translate into implementation?
Exchange with strong European regions is not a ‘nice-to-have’, but a key building block for Upper Austria’s energy future – and at the same time part of our strong European research commitment at the Energieinstitut.