BEST Conference 2026

We would like to invite you to our annual BEST Conference, which will focus on our contributions to the transition to a secure and resilient sustainable energy system and circular economy.

The conference will include presentations from our scientific partners, company partners and BEST colleagues, a poster exhibition and plenty of opportunities for exchange and networking.

Date: September 30th, 2026
Venue: Steiermarkhof, Ekkehard-Hauer-Straße 33, 8052 Graz (How to reach the venue)


Programme

09:30 Morning Coffee
10:00 Welcome and introduction Welcome and introduction Geschäftsführung BEST
10:15 Topic 1 - Session 1 Contributions to the transformation of our energy system  
  Keynote Energy system perspectives for net zero Tobias Pröll (BOKU)
  Presentation Global warming potential of bioenergy conversion pathways in Austria: A comparative life cycle assessment Christa Dissauer (BEST)
  Presentation Flexibility provision by decentralized energy and resource systems Daniel Muschick (BEST)
11:15 Coffee Break
11:30 Topic 1 - Session 2 Contributions to the transformation of our energy system  
  Industrial perspective Sonnenspeicher Süd - Toward a decarbonized district heating system in Graz with the world’s largest seasonal heat storage Heimo Ecker-Eckhofen und/oder Michael Reisenbichler-Sommerhofer (Sonnenspeicher Süd)
  Presentation Optimisation-based design of decentralized energy and resource systems using data from a Citizen Science approach Rita Sturmlechner (BEST)
  Presentation Integrating a biogas process into industrial production processes Bernhard Drosg (BEST)
  Presentation Integration of biomass gasification into existing industrial infrastructure Katharina Fürsatz (BEST)
12:40 Poster Exhibition Sneak Preview Poster exhibition sneak preview Walter Haslinger (BEST)
12:50 Lunch Break
13:35 Poster Exhibition, Coffee and Networking Poster Exhibition, Coffee and Networking  
14:20 Topic 2 - Session 1 Contributions to a circular economy  
  Keynote tbd Tobias Stern (Uni Graz)
  Presentation Direct and indirect pathways for conversion of CO₂ for the production of fuel and chemicals Philipp Graefe (BEST)
  Presentation Model-based scaling of waste gasification systems Magdalena Krainz (BEST)
15:20 Coffee Break
15:35 Topic 2 - Session 2 Contributions to a circular economy  
  Industrial perspective tbd Matthias Müller-Hagedorn (BASF)
  Presentation Pyrolysis in recycling: navigating feedstock variability, product focus, and system integration Elisabeth Wopienka (BEST)
  Presentation Electro-fermentation as advanced tool for targeted bioproduction of green fuels and chemicals Werner Fuchs (BOKU) tbc and/or Katharina Ludwig (BEST)
  Presentation Monitoring and control of thermal and thermochemical technologies Helmut Niederwieser (BEST)
16:45 Wrap up and Closing Wrap up and closing Geschäftsführung BEST
17:00 End of official programme
17:00 Drinks and Networking
18:00 End

Please note that the number of participants is limited.

Within the poster exhibition of the conference, we will be happy to include contributions from our partners highlighting their innovative projects (NO advertising). You are invited to submit a maximum one-page abstract (otherwise no formal restrictions) of your project by August 31 (claudia.peternell@best-research.eu). Submitted abstracts will be evaluated by a scientific committee. Positively evaluated abstracts will be invited to present the submitted papers / projects as posters. You will be informed of the result of the evaluation by September 15.






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