South Tyrol Energy Scenarios

Built in alignment with the South Tyrol Climate Plan 2040 — adopted by the Autonomous Province of Bolzano in July 2023 — the platform translates ambitious policy targets (-55% CO₂ by 2030, climate neutrality by 2040) into concrete, accessible, and scientifically grounded scenarios.

What you can do with the platform The platform allows you to explore three key scenarios — the 2019 baseline, the 2030 transformation, and the 2040 climate neutrality pathway — comparing their impact on CO₂ emissions, total energy system costs, and local value creation. A central focus is the economic dimension: the energy transition is not just a climate issue, but also an opportunity to keep investments within the region rather than spending them on fossil fuel imports.

Each scenario is analysed by sector — heating, electricity, industry, and transport — with clear explanations of the key enabling technologies: heat pumps, battery storage, green hydrogen, Vehicle-to-Grid, and sector coupling.

The scientific methodology Behind the platform lies an hourly energy system simulation model based on EnergyPLAN (Aalborg University) and optimised with EPLANopt, the algorithm developed by Eurac Research. The model simulates all 8,760 hours of the year for each technology combination, automatically identifying optimal solutions balancing emissions reduction and system costs. The same methodology has already been successfully applied to other European regions, including Lower Austria, Salzburg, Piedmont, and six EU countries.

Who it's for The platform is a valuable tool for public administrators, energy planners, researchers, and anyone who wants to understand — through real data and robust models — how South Tyrol can become an Alpine model for climate neutrality.

South Tyrol Energy Scenarios