Fresh from the Printers! The New Industry s Manufacturing Technology

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1 Einzelpreis 5,- EUR Ausgabe Issue 16, März June 2014 June 2014 Fresh from the Printers! The New Industry s Manufacturing Technology Life Cycle Analysis Helps Design Greener Products Green Tech Valley s New Research Infrastructure Service Alliance for Global Green Tech Companies

2 This project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and made possible by the INTERREG IVC programme 2 Green Tech Magazine Dear Readers! CONTENT Styria is known as an innovation hotspot. Greentech companies here grow twice as fast as their global counterparts. This growth mainly results from extensive research and development activities, accounting for 4.7% of the overall economic performance - a top rate by European standards. This makes the Green Tech Valley on the outskirts of Graz the 1 st address for innovative environmental technologies. Page 4 Buildings, Cars and More - from the Printer Page 6 Regions Sharing the Route of Recycling THE PARTNERSHIP One sector that sets new technology standards is 3D printing. This technique, which has advanced from an often belittled idea into an industry-scale process, is currently inducing sustainable changes. Instead of mere prototyping, 3D printers materialise the industrial production of buildings, cars and prostheses. Styrian companies are developing 3D printers for special applications and are the first ones to use them for low-cost heat exchangers or in after-sales service. Page 7 Pay 1, get 10: New Service Alliance for Cluster Members The Green Tech Valley is also a pioneer in the field of life cycle analysis. Magna Steyr uses a proprietary tool which is able to assess environmental impacts already during product development and thereby allows to design ecologically optimised products. A ground-breaking innovation made in Styria is the KWB Multifire pellet and wood chip heating system. It automatically recognises different biomass residues and burns them in a near-zero-emission process also in the low capacity range. Page 8 Simply Styrian Page 12 Innovation Management 2.0 Market leaders operate internationally. In response to this trend, the green-tech cluster ECO WORLD STYRIA offers its members a unique service. According to the motto pay 1, get 10, members benefit from access to ten international green-tech clusters with services comparable to those back home. The alliance opens the door to new attractive business opportunities and firstclass contacts in Asia, Europe and America. Our magazine seeks to pick up on the dynamic development in the Green Tech Valley. And so today, instead of the previous Eco World Magazine, you have received the first issue of our Green Tech Magazine in its fresh new design. We wish you even more fun reading! Page 10 New Labs for Future Market Success Page 13 Lifestyle Page 14 The Entire Life of Products at a Glance Wir sind ausgezeichnet Gedruckt nach der Richtlinie Druckerzeugnisse des Österreichischen Umweltzeichens, Medienfabrik Graz, UW-Nr. 812 AT/28/014 Please collect used paper for recycling Bernhard Puttinger and the ECO WORLD STYRIA Team The print is according to the rules Druckerzeugnisse of the Austian Ecolabel, Medienfabrik Graz, UW-Nr. 812 Imprint: Media Owner & Publisher: ECO WORLD STYRIA Umwelttechnik Cluster GmbH, Reininghausstraße 13, 8020 Graz, Austria, Tel.: , office@eco.at, Content & Project Management: Bernhard Puttinger, Isabella Wuthe Production: Bohmann Druck und Verlag Ges.m.b.H. & Co KG, 1110 Vienna Print: Medienfabrik Graz

3 Green Tech Magazine 3 WORLDNEWS Austria is Europe s Recycling Leader recent survey by the European Environment Agency (EEA) have revealed that European recycling rates are highest A in Austria with 63%, followed by Germany (62%), Belgium (58%) and the Netherlands (51%). In the period of analysis, more than one third of all household and municipal solid wastes were recycled, corresponding to a 25% increase over 2001 or 1.5 times the body weight of all Europeans together. Yet, the EEA presumes that many countries will have difficulty accomplishing the mandatory EU targets of 50% by the year The implementation of new waste treatment technologies is therefore essential. Main Sources of Energy in EU Solid Fuels Oil Gas Nuclear Power Renewable Energies Source: Eurostat Renewable Energies on the Advance Despite the change of background conditions in many countries, green energies are steadily gaining popularity in Europe. A growing number of countries additionally has turned to sun, wind and biomass for electricity generation. The mix of energy varies considerably, as a Eurostat survey revealed. In more than one third of all EU countries, renewables have meanwhile become the main source of energy; this is, for example, the case in Sweden and Austria, where hydropower makes up a substantial share. The runners-up are coal and solid fuels, which are still predominantly used in six EU states. Spain and France, however, are known to prefer nuclear power as the prime source of energy. Credits: Shutterstock, Bohmann, Google/Weinberg-Clark Photography Google is Getting Greener In media reports, Rick Needham, Director of Energy and Sustainability at Google, was often referred to as the company s man in charge of green business. Google had, in fact, spent nearly one billion US dollars on projects for the expansion of renewable energies such as solar parks to date. Throughout its business operations, Google has used eco-electricity generated from roof solar panels or wind farms in more than 30% of its facilities. The new Data Center in North Carolina shall also largely be operated in a sustainable manner. In an interview in the business journal Handelsblatt, Needham explained the reasons for Google s activities: firstly, there is an attractive return on the capital invested, and secondly, the company favours changing the game projects, namely projects that truly have the potential to effect a change in the industry towards renewable energies. One of Google s investments is a cable along the Atlantic Coast with the capacity to transmit tens of thousands of megawatts of wind energy. UN Initiative Demands Sustainable Energy for All The UN Sustainable Energy for All initiative wants to ensure universal access to eco-electricity for all people by the year It also aims to improve energy efficiency on a global scale and double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. Renewable energies currently account for 18% of the global energy mix. A key objective is to reduce the cost of eco-electricity. In the BASIC countries (Brazil, South Africa, India and China), the decoupling of the energy sector from politics may trigger higher investments in eco-efficiency, especially from international partners.

4 4 Green Tech Magazine BUILDINGS, CARS AND MORE - FROM THE PRINTER 3D printers are the latest trend. They are extremely popular with end consumers, but also revolutionise the industrial sector. Spare parts or prefabricated parts made of metal, plastics and porcelain allow for new designs and services. Building a house can be quite simple: choose a model, order it - and move in 24 hours later. What sounds like science fiction may soon become reality, researchers at the University of Southern California claim. They are currently developing a 3D printer which is able to fabricate a whole building in only one day. During this process, the building structure is assembled layer by layer in next to no time. Once the outer shell is complete, craftsmen will finish off the interior of the house. Apart from buildings also cars, protheses and spare parts can be materialised. The new process has meanwhile advanced from the mere fabrication of prototypes towards industry-scale production. 3D printing is experiencing a hype, and Styrian companies are at the forefront of this trend. Metal Print already Used in Production Anton Paar implemented its new 3D laser sintering plant in January, thus becoming Austria s technology leader in the field of metal printing. There is a real metal boom in 3D printing, and rapid prototyping has meanwhile advanced into rapid manufacturing, Stefan Pfanner, Production Manager of Anton Paar, which is also a global leader in measurement technology, said. The specification profiles of the layer-fabricated components are easy to design thanks to parameters like laser performance, powder mixture, lighting strategies etc. They come very close to objects fabricated by conventional methods like turning and milling. The products which have been already 3D printed by Anton Paar today could be used in aviation, dental technology and lightweight construction, to name but a few. The Graz-based company is also one of the pioneers in the 3D printing of titanium materials or products. Its prime goal is to achieve added value through the new manufacturing process, such as a new alloy or clear cost benefits. The conventional fabrication of a heat exchanger component for an X-ray structure analysis device would have cost the company several thousand euros. Anton Paar was able to 3D print this component for its own production at a fraction of the cost. 3D Printer Made in Styria Hage, a Styrian manufacturer of specialised machinery and equipment, has launched an FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D printer on the market. The device called Hage 3Dp-A2 fabricates product models as well as functional components. Designs developed on the computer are Anton Paar uses 3D printers in its manufacturing process We believe that 3D printing has the potential for a complete innovation service package Kajetan Bergles, Service Development Manager, Knapp AG printed out as three-dimensional, two-coloured objects in dimensions of up to DIN A2, about the size of two shoeboxes. Our test customers were very content, so we have already kicked off another series, Stefan Hampel, Technical Director of Hage, said. Credits: Anton Paar

5 Green Tech Magazine 5 New Innovation Service Package for Customers 3D printers are still a novelty in industry to date. The global warehouse logistics specialist Knapp based near Graz wants to change this. We are planning on using 3D printers in the service sector, such as in spare part supply. We believe that 3D printing has the potential for a complete innovation service package, said Service Development Manager Kajetan Bergles. Head-mounted displays embedding augmented reality chips are already an integral part of Knapp s service range. The use of these technologies in combination with 3D printers would help to further reduce costs and downtimes. Such as service package is currently still under development at Knapp. Also legal requirements like warranty, guarantee, design protection etc. need to be clarified. It does take a while to 3D print the spare parts for our logistic systems, but this technology will no doubt change the entire manufacturing and supply chain, Kajetan Bergles added. Technologies Rapid prototyping consists in gluing, sintering, hardening or polymerising a powder mixture by layers. Details of this technology can be seen in the overview below. Market experts predict a From PC to reality 3D printers by Hage make it happen doubling of the global market to 3 billion euros over the next two to three years. Thereafter, market volumes are expected to grow to more than 6 billion euros by the year Stereo lithography (SLA) Polyjet Selec tive Sintering (SLS) Fused- Deposi tion- Modeling (FDM) 3D print Principle layers of liquid photopolymers hardened by UV laser layers of pasty thermoplastics polymerised by UV lamps layers of laser-sintered powder (plastics, metal) layers of extruded plastic wire layers of ceramic gypsum powder mixture glued together Advantages of each Technology Max. Object Size large large small Grading Effect on Surface invisible invisible, slightly sticky hardly visible, rough if untreated Material plastics, transparent plastics plastics plastics, metals Costs Equipment EUR 75, ,000 (low-cost systems approx. EUR 3,000) EUR 70, ,000 EUR 150, ,000 YES even rigid and flexible plastics can be combined medium visible plastics EUR 1,000-10,000 small hardly visible, rough if untreated ceramic gypsum powder mixture EUR 40,000-80,000 Raw Material/ kg EUR EUR EUR EUR EUR Speed (1= fast, 5=slow) Multicolour Several Materi als Expected Market Shares by 2015 by ,3 NO NO 20% 20% 2,0 YES still limited choice 13% 21% 2,7 NO NO 18% 16% 3,0-3,7 2,3 YES depends on number of print heads YES multicoloured prints possible YES depends on number of print heads 37% 31% NO 12% 12%

6 6 Green Tech Magazine REGIONS SHARING THE ROUTE OF RECYCLING Styria has been a pioneer and a driving force of recycling since This knowledge is now combined with that of 12 other regions and made accessible to all European countries through a vital database. 09 THE PARTNERSHIP of Flanders (NL) and Styria, where municipal solid waste is collected separately and where the quality of individual waste material fractions is high enough to assure outstanding recycling results This project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and made possible by the INTERREG IVC programme We have provided all information and data material on waste management and recycling rates and have submitted technical and legal best-practice exam We want to support other European regions with our waste management data and best-practice examples. Günther Illitsch, Government of Styria The R4R initiative promotes joint knowledge and measures for sustainable waste management European towns and cities share common waste management laws, but pursue different approaches to accomplish the targets in the individual regions. The current recycling rates in the involved regions differ greatly, and range from below 10% to over 70%. The Government of Styria and 12 European partner regions have launched a project entitled R4R Regions for Recycling, which is aimed at developing a joint framework for the monitoring of waste data, separate waste collection and recycling rates. At the same time, the instruments applied at local level are subjected to a technical, economic and legal assessment to facilitate a further increase in recycling rates in the various EU regions. Drawing on other Regions Experience A huge benefit lies in the fact that expert knowledge is shared with industry, community and regional representatives. Excellent local instruments which are applied in the partner regions serve as best-practice examples. The differences here are quite remarkable: the instruments used by local and regional authorities to organise waste collection and recycling comprise taxing schemes, landfill and waste incineration bans, public collection sites for waste separation, different pricing schemes, and awareness-raising campaigns. The companies, in turn, can offer technological solutions to help increase the efficacy of collection and recycling. Examples are found in the regions ples as well as public relations tools and activities. This is how we want to support other European regions in raising their standards, Günther Illitsch, Liaison Officer for Local Authorities and Municipal Associations at the Department of Waste Management and Sustainability of the Government of Styria, said. A total of 300 different local instruments used in the project regions were gathered and categorised. In a step-by-step process, the most effective measures of this pool will be identified. These shall also assist environmental and waste management companies in developing new business models. One of the forthcoming highlights is the international meeting to be held in Graz, where the best examples and future ideas will be discussed. Credits: R4R

7 UMWELTTECHNIK Green Tech Magazine 7 PAY 1, GET 10: NEW SERVICE ALLIANCE FOR CLUSTER MEMBERS The markets for innovative green technologies are moving into more distant areas. ECO WORLD STYRIA s new alliance with 10 international Green Tech clusters shortens the distances and provides member companies with direct access to global business opportunities Being a star in the domestic market is a great success. But business opportunities beyond national borders and continents still remain a tough challenge also for truly innovative companies. Making contacts in other countries costs time and money, and many companies are therefore reluctant to venture into export markets. ECO WORLD STYRIA s new alliance with 10 international Green Tech clusters provides a shortcut to success. Christian Buchmann, Styrian minister for the Economy, said: ECO WORLD STYRIA s service alliance assists our domestic Green Tech companies in gaining even more global networking opportunities. The new international cluster alliance provides Styrian Green Tech companies with direct access to experts in Europe, Asia and America; this opened the door to cooperations and has created attractive market opportunities. ECO WORLD STYRIA has signed the new service alliance within the existing International Cleantech Network (ICN). ECO WORLD STYRIA s service alliance assists our domestic Green Tech companies in gaining even more global networking opportunities Christian Buchmann, Minister for Economy, Europe and Culture, Styria Here is an example to illustrate 1 Cluster, 10 Countries According to the motto pay 1, get 10, ECO members the benefits gain direct access to potential business part- of the alliance: ners and other cluster members in Germany, Denbased A Grazmark, Italy, France, Spain, Singapore, South Korea, startup Canada, or the United States (Colorado, North Car- company olina). Local liaisons provide companies with first- dealing in biofuels sought to offer class business contacts and advice on market opportunities, environmental laws etc. - a service its highly specialised similar to the one back home from ECO WORLD services to a potential Scandinavian STYRIA. customer. To con- nect directly with the It is worth noting that European Commission President company s management, an exclusive link via the local Clean Tech service alliance partners with their excellent contacts was established. One phone call kicked off a José Manuel Barroso recently praised ECO WORLD STYRIA s innovation activities as an EU role model during a speech before EU regional representatives in Brussels. He mentioned that this cluster was an outstanding example of successful innovation work and was particularly impressed how synergies between industry and science are profitable business relationship! developed and jobs are created through eco-friendly technologies. ECO WORLD STYRIA now benefits from contacts around the globe Credits:Christian Jungwirth Direct Access to the World Time is known to be a key factor for success. The new alliance therefore directly connects companies and international clusters - the easiest and fastest way to build relationships.

8 8 Green Tech Magazine SIMPLY STYRIAN Treasure Trove Waste Landfill T oday, the separation, recovery and recycling of waste assures that valuable raw materials don t get lost. In former times, many metals ended up in landfills. Since metals like copper and tin are growing scarce and some resources, such as indium, are becoming increasingly important for the industry, now is the time to go on a treasure hunt in our waste dumps! Around 5% of the global annual demand of iron and non-ferrous metals could be recovered through what is commonly referred to as landfill mining. In the pilot project Landfill Mining Styria launched by Montanuniversität Leoben, ECO WORLD STYRIA and 18 industry partners, 8 tonnes of initial material samples have been collected from a landfill in Styria s Muerz Valley. The raw material potential for a further recovery is currently under review. A German TV channel has also reported on this issue in a 30 minutes documentary. eco.at Clean Water from Diamonds EST st S WORLD ss AddGrREeEN TECH ESH FOR FR H ow can water be disposed of when there is no municipal wastewater treatment plant nearby? Mountain huts, for example, can hardly be connected to public sewers and need their own wastewater disposal system. Such a system was developed and built by pro aqua Diamantelektroden Produktion GmbH. Currently only few countries have mandatory microbial limits for wastewater; but we expect that such limits will soon be introduced, and then we have a fully tested plant ready for market launch, Managing Director Wolfgang Staber, said. The reference plant is located at Häuslalm in Styria, where water quality has considerably improved since the upgrade. proaqua.cc _NEU engl.indd 8 Urban Future T he world will be calling in on Green Tech Valley: mobility, resources & energy, communication and living & urban planning will be the key themes of the Urban Future Conference to be held in Graz on November 18-19, More than 1,400 delegates, 200 only from the United Nations, are expected to attend the conference. Participants include decision makers from local governments, urban planning or infrastructure service providers. The event will- be rounded off by an exhibition (EXPO) where the latest environmental and energy technologies will be showcased. The city of Graz will also present itself with numerous smart city activities. urban-future.at :40

9 Green Tech Magazine 9 INTELLIGENTLY DONE GRAZ, AUSTRIA Flexible and Clean Use of Agricultural Resources T he new KWB Multifire pellet and wood chip heating system can be fired with pellets from a variety of different biomass residues such as corn cobs. It is the first system that automatically recognises the materials and burns them with near-zero emission. A type of caterpillar burner, for which a patent has been filed, transports the biomass through the individual combustion stages, much like a conveyor belt. This assures that the fire bed does not rotate and there is no whirl-up and emission of dust particles. A temperature sensor inside the combustion chamber controls the combustion parameters so as to assure complete material combustion and optimum efficiency. This technology has already proven suited for large plants in the top performance range (above 1 MW). The novelty is that it can now also be used in plants with a low performance range from 20 to 120 kw. The KWB Multifire is suited for use in single-family and double-family homes, in agriculture, in housing developments, commercial buildings and local heating networks. kwb.at EST 1913 Drone Software Made in Graz Improves Energy Efficiency of Buildings S Credits: Shutterstock, Tösch, Siemens AG, Haroun Moalla iemens researchers from Graz have developed a new technology for detecting energy losses in buildings or entire city districts. Image processing is based on photographs taken by drones. The software uses the data and converts it into a 3D model to visualise energy losses such as heat radiation, fluid and gas losses, poor insulation and moisture. The group of researchers named Video Analytics uses 4D data for an efficient data analysis. 4D data is time-varying 3D data material which is derived from high-grade overlapping digital (aerial) images and converted into 3D models. The drones and the new software have already being used in the development of Vienna s newly emerging city district Seestadt Aspern. siemens.at _NEU engl.indd 9 Biomass consumption is growing T he annual final energy consumption of biomass in the EU is expected to increase by 63% to 2,200 petajoules between 2010 and This would cover the entire energy demand of Austria over a period of two years. The absolute increase in bioenergy is even higher than in all other renewable sources of energy together. The key themes of the 4th Central European Biomass Conference held in Graz therefore comprised biogas, energy plants, biomass-to-energy, electricity from solid biomass, biofuels and biorefineries as well as bioenergy in urban areas. The conference, which attracted 1,100 visitors from 45 nations, was also a huge commercial success: during the Biomass Business Talks hosted by ECO WORLD STYRIA, Steirische Wirtschaftsförderung SFG and Internationalisierungscenter Steiermark ICS, 200 cooperation talks by 130 companies from 17 nations were held. cebc.at :40

10 10 Green Tech Magazine NEW LABS FOR FUTURE MARKET SUCCESS The Green Tech Valley has four new research infrastructure facilities for new green technologies, where ideas can be quickly reviewed and optimised in specific test runs. This marks another milestone for additional product innovations and their market success. The objective of the new Graz Central Lab Biobased Products is to prevent the wasting of biomass such as algae, wood or food scraps by using all their constituents. Interdisciplinary work groups of Graz University of Technology, University of Graz and Joanneum Research have sought to advance the integrated reuse of biorelevant materials. Fibre plants, hardwood from deciduous trees and softwood from coniferous trees can serve as raw material for a variety of synthetic processes. This requires that their rigid structure is broken down by means of a specific process. Due to the thermal and chemical burden of the source material, currently up to 50% of non-recyclable by-products are generated during this process. The Central Lab Biobased Products can boast new technologies which allow to fully use biomass such as algae or plant fibres for the sustainable production and isolation of Full-scale use of biomass: inaugural ceremony at the new process engineering building of Graz University of Technology Top research needs top equipment. Harald Kainz, Rector of Graz University of Technology natural substances, active ingredients and various basic chemicals. This ultimately results in new products which can be used for nutritional or medical purposes. Testing Containers Made of Glass at the new Technikum Old habits are also broken with the fully renovated process engineering building of Graz University of Technology, which now presents itself in new splendour as the socalled Technikum. Research activities are performed in six testing containers made of glass, which thanks to their modular structure can be flexibly used. In these containers, new methods of wastewater treatment for the paper industry, methods for extracting natural substances and refinery techniques are tested and the extraction of pharmaceutical ingredients is investigated. The facility is truly unique and internationally state-of-the-art. The distinctive feature of the Technikum is that it combines laboratory-scale basic research with industry-scale applications: experiments can be repeated in the form of a pilot test at the Technikum before their market launch. This saves time and subsequently also money spent on development. Focus on Waste Management Processes Another industry partner is the Institute for Sustainable Waste Management and Technology (AVAW) at Montanuniversität Leoben with its Credits: TU Graz/Lunghammer, Shutterstock

11 UMWELTTECHNIK Green Tech Magazine 11 EST 2012 RESEARCH laboratory for environment and process analysis. In this laboratory, the properties of waste materials, effluents, soils, secondary fuels, biofuels and other process products are investigated. The range of services comprises on-site sampling, analysis, expert findings and assistance in plant design and regulatory procedures. Also process monitoring and testing of biogas facilities or waste fractions as well as external quality assurance/control procedures at waste treatment plants are offered. Montanuniversität Leoben, University of Graz and Joanneum Research have further labs Rechargeable Batteries of the Future The experts in Graz are currently also preparing new innovation opportunities and, along with them, a new research laboratory for rechargeable batteries. While lithium-ion batteries are still the Lithium-air batteries shall play a key role in future notebooks most popular type of batteries used for notebooks and mobile phones, the search is on for long-term alternatives with improved storage density, sustainable materials and lower costs. According to researchers, lithium-air batteries are said to have the greatest potential. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, they can be built without the use of transition metals like cobalt, nickel or manganese, which are expensive and in limited supply. Researchers from Graz University of Technology play a crucial role in the success of the lithium-air technology. In collaboration with St. Andrews University in Scotland, they are building electrodes made of titanium carbide instead of carbon, thereby enormously enhancing conductivity and stability. Titanium carbide leads to a clean cellular reaction, which increases the energy efficiency and extends the service life of the battery. The battery can be operated at higher loads, there is less capacity loss and it does not get as hot, Stefan Freunberger from the Institute for Chemistry and Technology of Materials, said. The researchers are currently searching for ways to further increase the energy capacity of this battery technology. Together with other specialised Green Tech labs of the University of Graz, Graz University of Technology, Montanuniversität Leoben or Joanneum Research, the Green Tech Valley offers a spatial concentration of trend-setting research infrastructure. This is the foundation on which companies can build their future market success.

12 12 Green Tech Magazine This year s Joanneum Research conference was dedicated to open innovation, a concept which holds many opportunities in store for companies. INNOVATION MANAGEMENT 2.0 In former times, innovation was associated with secret negotiations, encoded documents, and laboratories with only few access authorisations. Ideas were treated like the Holy Grail. This has dramatically changed over the past decade. The buzz word is open innovation. In simple terms, this concept entails using the knowledge of many people for the benefit of innovation performance of one s own company or organisation. Smart people all over the world can contribute with good ideas, Martin G. Curley, Vice President of Intel Labs and Director of Intel Labs Europe, said in his keynote speech at the Joanneum Research conference. Curley explained that a new culture of innovation was emerging, which was more advanced in the United States than in Europe. The Europe 2020 Strategy is good and important, but more important are results, he stressed. Wolf Rauch, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Joanneum Research (left), Christopher Drexler, Minister for Science and Research, and Managing Director Wolfgang Pribyl (right) before the conference When Companies Open Themselves Instead of relying exclusively on their own re- er develops new products by drawing on external not only improve the quality of the environment, search and development abilities, sources of knowledge from technological facili- but also the quality of living of each individual city companies may also consciously ties, universities and start-ups. One example is dweller. involve external troubleshooters and other sources open source software projects, which Intel uses as the basis for creating new products. Improving Cooperation in the Future of ideas in the innovation During the conference, potential options for col- process. This has the ad- Particularly scientists from all disciplines as well as laboration between Intel Labs and Joanneum Re- ditional benefit that ordinary citizens are encouraged to contribute search were discussed as well. Various sessions companies can assimilate their ideas to the open innovation 2.0 concept. organised by the five research institutes of Joan- internal and exter- This works particularly well where the own living neum Research provided an overview of key top- nal technologies environment is affected. The city of tomorrow is ics to be addressed in the future, including nano- - even those already emerging today and it is based on many technology, positioning and challenges for Research must move out into the city Keynote Speaker Martin G. Curley, Intel Labs: Open Innovation 2.0 for Sustainable Intelligent Living outside their current business activity. From this approach emerges what Curley called integrated collaboration. Intel is regarded as the pioneer of this concept. The chipmak- people s ideas. Curely believes that Graz, with its less complex layout, has better chances to progess into a smart city than Vienna. Curley stressed that research must move out of the lab and into the city. At a conference in Dublin last year, Intel demonstrated how the concept of a smart, sustainable city could be developed in conjunction with citizens, organisations, companies and scientific institutions. Sustainable movement is only one pillar of social change. An approach in this direction is a connected vehicle which uses mobile services to generate additional sales while enriching urban life. Open innovation may therefore research, technology and innovation policies, as well as biomarker research and smart data - smart money. Austria s energy supply until 2050, for instance, was a much debated topic during the resource session. Energy supply will become more complex in the future and will come from different sources, depending on regional availability. Resource efficiency and storage technologies will be key components of future supply. The implications for energy utilities? The emergence of new business models and challenges for their distribution and network structure. Credits: bernhard bergmann

13 Green Tech Magazine 13 LIFESTYLE When Foxes and Mice Do Research Getting children interested in research and development from a young age is a key concern of the Styrian research association Green Tech Research Styria. The mini-book series Forscherfuchs und Schlaue Maus, published by Joanneum Research and ECO WORLD STYRIA, seeks to get kids from the age of three interested in environmental issues.the first two tales are concerned with eco-electricity and how old stuff is converted into new items. Do-it-yourself experiments make research a hands-on experience for the kids. Further mini-books about smart buildings, green mobility and climate are in the pipeline. Available for free (in German * ACHTUNG language) * Die Äpfel sind nach dem Experiment at NICHT office@eco.at mehr essbar! Bitte sofort entsorgen! Washing Machine Turns into Waste Basket Solar Kiosk for an Exclusive Ambience The innovative Cubox is a genuine statement for people who love to indulge in a sunny lifestyle. It creates an enchanting atmosphere in all sorts of places without access to electricity - mountains, beaches and gardens - and adds a new dimension to outdoor enjoyment. The Cubox is a meeting point and an eye-catcher. It is furnished with a cooling system, lighting and many other features and operates exclusively by solar energy without flue gas or noise emission. cubox.at TrashDesignManufaktur created unique design objects from waste. The products are mainly made of recycled parts derived from waste electrical and electronic equipment and are assembled by people in long-term unemployment. Each object is unique. An exceptionally smart and trendy one is the waste basket made out of an old washing machine drum. The basket rests on the belt pulley of the former washing machine. trashdesign.at Credits:cubox, SUCK UK Ltd Sun Jar: Smart Solar Light in a Glass Jar Just put the jar into the sun, close the lid after sunset and enjoy solar light that glows in the dark. The small sun-filled jar which radiates light, warmth and a cosy atmosphere is a nice decoration for your party and will also adorn your window sill. The sun jar runs on solar cells and rechargeable batteries and is available online. coolstuff.de

14 14 Green Tech Magazine THE ENTIRE LIFE OF PRODUCTS AT A GLANCE How can the environmental impacts ranging from production to recycling of products be utilised? The growingly stringent rules and regulations make life cycle analysis a must in basically all production areas. Styria can boast trend-setting projects for cars and buildings. Have you ever thought of beer recycling? No, not the anatomical, natural way, but in the form of a life cycle analysis. This was the purpose of a project carried out in the eco-region of Kaindorf, Styria by Joanneum Research Resources and the Gratzer brewery. The production of beer is not only about blending hops and malt. It is a highly complex process comprising the cultivation of basic ingredients, transport, energy consumption, and reuse of bottles or tins. Beer production sets free greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and laughing gas. The carbon footprint of one litre of beer is the same as that of a 1.3 km car drive. By way of a detailed analysis, the project organisers managed to render the production process of beer climate-neutral. During the brewing process of natural beer, for example, neither raw materials nor products are pre-treated or Climate-neutral beer by the brewery Gratzer Magna Steyr s concept car Mila Blue: new propulsion strategies and lightweight designs boost efficiency after-treated with chemicals. Gratzer is therefore the first climate-neutral brewery in Austria, Gerfried Jungmeier of Joanneum Research, said. The example demonstrates how multifaceted process and production analyses have already become. Life cycle analysis investigates the environmental impacts of products over their entire life cycle covering production, consumption and disposal. These preparatory activities are becoming more and more demanding. The EU, for example, set a minimum reuse and recovery target for cars of 95% by average weight which is to be achieved by the year Life cycle analyses are implemented in the development and production process to assure that all environmental impacts are assessed and all ecological improvements are identified at an early stage. In automobile development, a growing number of component, system and entire vehicle manufacturers look at the eco-balance of their cars from cradle to grave, covering the entire value-added chain. They calculate the ecological footprint of water, energy and resource consumption and the greenhouse effect (in carbon dioxide emission equivalents) of raw materials used, and the severity of environmental impacts throughout the entire life cycle of a product. The material mix and the configuration of a vehicle are of crucial importance in this respect. Magna Steyr and ipoint-systems gmbh have jointly developed a tool - balance co2de - which serves to simulate a variety of scenarios with different recycling technologies for the car. This allows to reduce the burden on time and costs resulting from disassembly, which was previously done to test the decomposability and recyclability of a product. A fine example to demonstrate the efficacy of Credits: Gratzer, Magna, boanet.at

15 UMWELTTECHNIK Green Tech Magazine 15 Raw Materials Extraction End of Life Sustainable Design Part Manufacturing Product Use Assembly Transport the programme is Qoros 3 Sedan, the first Chinese vehicle complying with the stringent European recycling standards and the material bans for type approval. With Mila Blue and Mila Cult, Magna Steyr has itself demonstrated the efficacy of the balance co2de toolkit. The toolkit examines new propulsion strategies, lightweight designs and efficiency enhancement measures for the entire system as well as for individual modules, explained Dietmar Hofer, a specialist for eco-balances and material flow balances. The use of balance co2de has helped Magna Steyr to assess the environmental impacts of its vehicles within a reasonable time frame and with high-quality results. New Tool for Optimised Building Design Life cycle analysis is also increasingly used in building design. Ewald Hasler of FH Joanneum has co-developed the tool EnergieausweisPlus for a life-cycle-based quality optimisation of buildings. In the framework of a research project, a database for calculating life cycle costs was developed which also evaluates the economic and ecological impacts of building construction and recycling. Architects or civil engineers can use this information in the early phase as an add-on for the calculation of mandatory energy performance certificates. This allows to consider the life cycle costs and environmental impacts already in the planning phase. The structure of a building, its size, orientation, construction details and technical equipment are thus easily optimised over the entire life cycle. EnergieausweisPlus assists in the sustainable design of buildings Life cycle analysis is already widely used for buildings and cars. Other sectors including the production of material assets and Green Tech facilities will follow.

16 16 Green Tech Magazine DID YOU KNOW? The World s Largest Solar Thermal Power Plant Ivanpah, the world s largest solar thermal power plant, recently started commercial operation in the Mojave Desert west of Las Vegas. Its nominal capacity of 392 MW is designed to supply 140,000 households with electricity. More than 300,000 software-controlled mirrors reflect the sunlight to solar towers. brightsourceenergy.com Denmark has a House Made of Waste Austria may be Europe s recycling leader, but there is one thing currently only Denmark has: houses made of waste. For the so-called Upcycle House only old or waste materials have been used. Its facade has been partly made of discarded beer bottles. lendagerark.dk Balloon Effect Serves to Recharge Batteries When you rub a balloon with wool so it becomes electrically charged and makes your hair stand up - that s the so-called triboelectric effect. On the basis of this principle, US researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a compact electric generator which is operated by a gentle breeze or by tap water. nanoscience.gatech.edu WOLFGANG JILEK S CARTOON: 3D Building Europe s Most Elevated Photovoltaic System In the skiing area surrounding the Pitztal glacier in Tyrol, Europe s most elevated photovoltaic system shall be erected. The project, located at an altitude of 2,850 m above sea level, will comprise 2,400 modules and produce a total of 600 kw of energy. The project location also poses an engineering challenge: the modules need to be mounted on wire ropes. pitztaler-gletscher.at Credits: Shutterstock, BrightSource/Gilles, Mingasson, lendagerark, Pitztal