The Upper Austrian solar campaign aims above all to increase the number of large scale solar installations. Target groups of this campaign are especially companies, mulit-family buildings and public authorities. In order to trigger the market development for large-scale solar thermal installations, a number of activities are carried out:

Awareness raising

A number of information and awareness raising activities are carried out including publications and events. One main part of the information activities is the promotion of large scale solar thermal installations. In order to overcome the barrier of lack of know­how, a planning manual ("solar guide") was developed and training courses for the planning and installation of large solar thermal systems were organised.

Additionally targeted folders for different sectors of commerce and industry were produced, which summarise the opportunities and possibilities for implementing solar energy installations.

Energy advice service

Energy advice given at the moment when investment decisions are made is an important tool for the promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. O. O. Energiesparverband offers therefore a broad energy advice service programme offering energy advice for households, companies & public bodies.

For companies and industry the service has been extended recently, offering 2 days energy advice for businesses, 75% of the costs are covered by the regional government. Since the start of the energy advice programme for companies, more than 370 advice session have been held, 22 of them focusing about large scale solar thermal installations only.

In order to promote renewable energy applications in companies, together with energy experts, energy strategies for four industry sectors (metal, wood, hotels, real estate) were developed. Based on these guidelines, individual energy advice sessions for the companies were held, leading to concrete renewable energy installations.

Training activities

A number of training programmes are carried out. The most important one is the training of energy advisers. The training course comprises a basic (50 lectures) and a advanced
training course (120 lectures). So far more than 400 people have passed these courses. A special training course for planning and installing large scale solar thermal installations was designed and is now regularly hold.

Recently also 2 new educational programmes for more jobs in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources were started:

• a new university course at the Fachhochschule Wels from which "Sustainable Energy Engineers" will graduate" and

• a vocational training, called "Okoenergie-Installateure", training installers especially in solar and biomass.

Financial Support

A new solar impetus is expected in Upper Austria from the increase of subsidy (e. g. 2,100 € for a 10 m2 standard flat plate solar system). Additionally, the enlargement of existing installations is supported.

Especially attractive is also the financial support for renewable energy installations in companies, which covers up to 44 % of the investment costs for solar thermal installations.

Promoting the solar energy industry

Another main part of the promotion programme is the support for industry and companies. In order to support business development, the "Okoenergie-Cluster" (OEC), a network of green energy businesses was established.

Presently 134 companies are partner of the network, employing 2,100 people and achieving a turn-over of around 270 M€. The network is managed by O. O. Energiesparverband.

The aim of the Okoenergie-Cluster network is to foster co-operation between the partners by common training & information, research and export activities. Among the very successful activities within the network was also a co-operation project for triggering large scale solar thermal installations.

R&D & international co-operation

A regional R&D programme ("ETP" — energy technology programme) supports R&D projects in the fields of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. So far 79 R&D projects and 153 thesis papers have been supported including several innovations in the solar thermal sector.

Additionally an R&D centre (ASiC — Austrian Solar Innovation Centre) was established to support the local solar companies in their research activities, a solar R&D laboratory is under planning.

International projects are another tool to increase exchange of know-how and experience in the field of solar thermal. O. O. Energiesparverband has already implemented about 60 European co-operation projects, a recent one for example focuses about solar thermal cooling.

Third Party Financing

In order to support innovative financing mechanisms, such as third party financing (TPF), a regional TPF programme is managed by O. O. Energiesparverband. The successful programme has so far supported 45 municipalities with the implementation of energy efficiency projects. Throughout the whole process, the programme provides detailed information, advice and guidance to local authorities and companies interested in TPF.

The programme was extended to cover both municipalities and companies, as well as investments in energy efficiency and in the construction or retrofitting of installations. It is expected that the new programme will give a strong boost to retrofitting large buildings and installations, and that it will trigger new (large) RES installations.