The Role of Renewable Gas Energy Communities in Austria’s Energy Transformation

Carolin Monsberger (), Stefan Reuter, Franziska Ackerl, Bernhard Mayr, Bernadette Fina and Bernadette Mauthner
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Carolin Monsberger: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Giefinggasse 2, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Stefan Reuter: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Giefinggasse 2, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Franziska Ackerl: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Giefinggasse 2, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Bernhard Mayr: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Giefinggasse 2, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Bernadette Fina: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Giefinggasse 2, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Bernadette Mauthner: Biogas Bruck/Leitha GmbH, Szallasweg 1, 2460 Bruck an der Leitha, Austria

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 18, 1-21

Abstract: Renewable energy communities (RECs) can play a vital role in integrating renewable gases like biomethane into Austria’s energy system. This study examines critical gaps in national regulations for renewable gas RECs (short ‘gas RECs’) and the need for clarification in certification processes. The novelty of this study lies in the development of energy community (EC) variants for renewable gas, focusing on Industrial, Communal, and Agricultural Symbiosis. A case study of Bruck/Leitha evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of gas RECs, showing that while biomethane’s production costs are higher than natural gas by 2.14 cents/kWh in 2021, it offers greater price stability. Although biomethane is economically less competitive, it provides significant ecological benefits. The results underline the importance of policy advancements, including funding mechanisms and regulatory clarity, to support the integration of gas RECs into Austria’s energy system.

Keywords: renewable gas; energy communities; system integration; regulatory framework; techno-economic analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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