Hybrid LSC

Holistic sustainability for settlement areas through an optimal mix of technical, economic and social measures

At the center of the “Hybrid LSC” project is an economy of sharing; On the one hand it is about the well-known approaches by sharing energy, such as joint energy generation, use and storage and on the other hand it is about the sharing of local resources and other supply and disposal services. Local Sustainable Communities (LSCs – local sustainable communities) should generate the greatest possible benefit at the superordinate system level by stimulating and technically implementing a holistic sustainability approach in the individual communities. This sustainability approach not only includes the energy system, but the entire handling of all resources – for example, water and waste are also included.

For the success of the project, intelligent control strategies are being developed to optimize the demand for energy and other supplies, such as heat, cold, mobility, water and waste, within an LSC. In addition, these strategies provide the greatest possible flexibility for the energy system and do so in an efficient, effective and economical manner. This has positive macroeconomic, socio-economic and ecological effects. Citizens and stakeholders (municipalities, planning authorities, property developers and other parties involved) are involved in the project. The concept is applicable to all types of settlements, whether in rural or urban areas.

Transformation to Local Sustainable Communities for a holistic, positive effect

The aim of the project is to find and implement an optimal mix of technological and economic measures for the respective settlement areas. At the end of the project, a positive effect should be determined, both economically as well as socially and ecologically.

In the LSC – Puchstrasse application, for example, a former industrial area is transformed into a flexible, efficient Local Sustainable Community. The focus here is on optimized interaction between locally generated renewable energy, storage and consumption patterns. Highly innovative building technologies such as heat pumps, which can be fed from various sources, or facade-integrated PV are used. The concept takes a user-centered approach to implementation.

In the LCS Vienna application, the component activation of a building functions for the first time as storage for the public district heating system. This second demo location is in an urban development area in Vienna.

Further locations are apartment buildings and settlements in Lower Austria and municipalities in Burgenland.

Depending on the type of application and the size of the system, the technologies required for LSC integration are already available on the market. In the Hybrid LSC project, algorithms and interfaces for the integration and connection of individual energy technologies and beyond are developed. A digital platform for all supply and disposal services in a settlement area is being designed that will function as an intelligent “one-stop shop” for the participants in the Local Sustainable Community. It is essential that the project pursues a holistic approach that goes beyond the energy system (e.g. water and waste) and also takes social aspects into account.