Güssing
Encyclopedia
Güssing is a town in Burgenland
, Austria
. It is located at 47°4′N 16°19′E, with a population of 3,811 (2011), and is the administrative center of the Güssing
district.
The Güssing Castle
, built in 1157, is the oldest castle in Burgenland and a regional landmark.
The lords of Güssing (in Hungarian: Kőszeg, in Slovak: Kysak) were a noble family in the frontier region of Austria
and the Kingdom of Hungary
. Note that Kőszeg
is the name of a nearby Hungarian
town (known as Güns in German
) to which that family moved its residence from Güssing in 1274.
In 1522, it became the residence of the Batthyány
family, one of the most distinguished Magnate
families in Hungary.
was, some 15 years ago, the poorest and least developed region of Austria. The Güssing region was one of the poorest within Burgenland.
Güssing, a major town in south Burgenland, a district comprising around 27,000 inhabitants, is the first community in the European Union to produce its whole energy demand – electricity, heating/cooling, fuels – out of renewable resources, all resources from within the region.
However, to appreciate the enormity of this achievement, you need to rewind and go back to 1988 when Güssing was one of the poorest areas in Austria.
Then, the community relied on agriculture, with farmers selling corn, sunflower oil and timber to make a living. While in terms of tourism, the main/only attraction was a 12th-century castle built by Hungarian nobles.
On account of the geographically unfavourable location near the border, major trade or industrial businesses did not exist at that time and the whole district did not have any transportation infrastructure at all (neither railroad nor highway). This resulted in a scarcity of jobs, 70% weekly commuters to Vienna and a high rate of migration to other regions. At the time, the town was said to be hardly able to afford its annual €6 million (£4.7million) fuel bill.
To change this situation the “reformers” realised that substantial capital outflow from the region is due to the town’s energy being bought from outside sources. This included oil, power and fuels, while existing resources e.g. 45% forest land, remained largely unused.
Thus the “reformers” proposed to abandon fossile energy and start producing and subsequently selling energy to the citizens (customers) themselves. So they wanted to keep that € 6 Million (value for 1992, based on conventional energy prices of that year) in the city.
In the early 1990s, a policy was proposed which called for a complete abandonment of fossil-fuel-based energy. The objective was to supply, in a first step, the town of Güssing and subsequently the whole district with regionally available renewable energy sources.
The election of the town’s current mayor, Peter Vadasz, in 1992 accelerated the process, particularly when he appointed Reinhard Koch, an electrical engineer and native of Güssing, to assess how the town could benefit from its natural resources, i.e. forest land. Koch was "fresh" out of university and was not willing to share the destiny on many local commuters to Vienna.
The first step taken was to order that all public buildings in the town should stop using fossil fuels.
As result of the energetic optimisation of buildings in the town, expenditure on energy was reduced by almost 50%. Then a wood burning plant that provided heating for 27 houses was built. Then, a facility was constructed which turned rapeseed into car fuel.
In 1998, Koch and Vadasz saw a presentation by a Viennese scientist, Hermann Hofbauer, about a technology he had developed to make an alternative fuel from wood.
They asked Hofbauer and Vienna's Technical University to build a pilot project in Güssing applying the technology, where wood chips are gasified under high temperature conditions. Gas fuels a Jenbacher engine that produces electricity and the “by-product” heat is used to produce warm water for the district heating system. Plant efficiency about 82-85%. Research and development went further on, so Güssing hosts today a number of innovative technologies, solutions, and patents. There is a team of highly trained technicians and “imported” scientists working in Güssing today.
The renewable-energy project expanded to the region and there are today 27 decentralized power plants within the Güssing county. Güssing today has an “energy” turnover of about € 14 Million p.a. Part of the profit is invested back into renewable energy projects.
What effect has this had on the area? A special scheme (very easy – stable energy prices, not linked to oil & gas, guaranteed long-term, 10–15 years) promoting the establishment of enterprises in the area has brought 50 new enterprises with more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs in the city. (these 1000 jobs are in the City, region not calculated...). Güssing has since developed into an important location for industries with high energy consumption, such as parquetry production or hardwood drying. The real highlight is the Blue Chip Energy, first high-efficiency solar cell production in Austria, a Joint Venture with Solon AG, who came to Güssing only because they can power the plant with clean energy from the renewable resources.
The town is conscious about the resources and is keen to take care and look after the surrounding forest to ensure they have a good supply of renewable energy for the future. Added to which, the town is currently using less than half of its yearly wood growth supply to feed its power plants. Thus, no cutting the substance.
Within the process of becoming energy autonomous city, a number of proprietary technologies and patents developed, to be applied in different fields, such as photovoltaic, biomass, etc. Also, extensive experience in analysis, preparation and implementation of such projects was accumulated, that experience to be given to other cities and communities willing to go the same renewable way.
Güssing today enjoys truly international popularity. Thus, ECRE Güssing International AG was established as the central company to expose Güssing internationally (www.ecreag.com).
Significant power plants include a 2 MW electric power 4.5 MW thermic wood gas generator
power plant in Güssing and, in nearby Strem
, a 0.5 MW electric power 0.5 MW thermic biomass gasification power plant using green silage re-growing raw materials like grass, clover, mains, sunflower.
As side effect, extra income is being brought into the town through eco-tourism. Visitors flock from around the world to gain inspiration from the town and keen to stay true to their eco-friendly roots, guests can stay in hotels that are heated and electrically powered all by renewables. Some 30,000 visitors were recorded during 2007.
Burgenland
Burgenland is the easternmost and least populous state or Land of Austria. It consists of two Statutarstädte and seven districts with in total 171 municipalities. It is 166 km long from north to south but much narrower from west to east...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. It is located at 47°4′N 16°19′E, with a population of 3,811 (2011), and is the administrative center of the Güssing
Güssing (district)
The Bezirk Güssing is an administrative district in the federal state of Burgenland, Austria, bordering on Vas Megye Hungary, of which it had been a part prior to 1921....
district.
The Güssing Castle
Burg Güssing
Burg Güssing is a castle in southern Burgenland, Austria. On June 30, 1524, the castle was acquired by the Batthyány family, who retain ownership to this day through a historical foundation that provides for the care and maintenance of the castle.-History:...
, built in 1157, is the oldest castle in Burgenland and a regional landmark.
The lords of Güssing (in Hungarian: Kőszeg, in Slovak: Kysak) were a noble family in the frontier region of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
. Note that Kőszeg
Koszeg
----Kőszeg is a town in Vas county, Hungary. The town is famous for its historical character.- History :The origins of the only free royal town in the historical garrison county of Vas go back to the third quarter of the 13th century...
is the name of a nearby Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
town (known as Güns in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
) to which that family moved its residence from Güssing in 1274.
In 1522, it became the residence of the Batthyány
Batthyány
Batthyány is the name of an old distinguished Hungarian Magnate family. The members of this family bear the title count or countess respectively prince or princess Batthyány von Német-Ujvár...
family, one of the most distinguished Magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
families in Hungary.
Notable people from Güssing
- BatthyányBatthyányBatthyány is the name of an old distinguished Hungarian Magnate family. The members of this family bear the title count or countess respectively prince or princess Batthyány von Német-Ujvár...
-Strattmann family- Ferenc Batthyány (1497, Buda - 1566) (hu)
- Ignaz von Batthyány (1741–1798), Bishop of Transylvania (de)
- László Batthyány-StrattmannLászló Batthyány-StrattmannThe Blessed Prince László Batthyány-Strattmann de Németújvár, in German Ladislaus Fürst Batthyány-Strattmann von Güssing, was a Hungarian aristocrat and physician. The devout Catholic became known as the "doctor of the poor"...
(1870, DunakilitiDunakilitiDunakiliti is a village in Győr-Moson-Sopron county, Hungary.- External links :*...
- 1931), doctor and blessed of the Catholic Church
- István Beythe (1532–1612), bishop, botanist (hu)
- Ferenc Faludi (de)
- Samuel Steinherz, errorly "Steinberg" (1857–1942), Jewish historian born here
- Josef Reichl (1860–1924)
- Jenő Nagy (1898–1944) (hu)
- Otto Kery (1923–2006), director, editor, actor (de)
- Peter Vadasz (born 1944), City Mayor
- Reinhard Koch (born 1959), together with Vadas the "creator" of energy-independent Güssing
- Josef Trinkl (1951–2004), politician (de)
- Heinz Janisch (born 1960), author (de)
- Ägidius Zsifkovics (born 1963), theologian, Bishop of EisenstadtEisenstadt- Politics :The current mayor of Eisenstadt is Andrea Fraunschiel ÖVP.The district council is composed as follows :* ÖVP: 17 seats* SPÖ: 8 seats* Austrian Green Party: 2 seats* FPÖ: 2 seats- Castles and palaces :...
- Martin StranzlMartin StranzlMartin Stranzl is an Austrian footballer currently playing as a defender with Borussia Mönchengladbach.-Club career:...
(born 1980), football player - Michael Miksits (born 1981), football player (de)
- Peter Traxler (born ?), Kabarettist
Renewable energy
BurgenlandBurgenland
Burgenland is the easternmost and least populous state or Land of Austria. It consists of two Statutarstädte and seven districts with in total 171 municipalities. It is 166 km long from north to south but much narrower from west to east...
was, some 15 years ago, the poorest and least developed region of Austria. The Güssing region was one of the poorest within Burgenland.
Güssing, a major town in south Burgenland, a district comprising around 27,000 inhabitants, is the first community in the European Union to produce its whole energy demand – electricity, heating/cooling, fuels – out of renewable resources, all resources from within the region.
However, to appreciate the enormity of this achievement, you need to rewind and go back to 1988 when Güssing was one of the poorest areas in Austria.
Then, the community relied on agriculture, with farmers selling corn, sunflower oil and timber to make a living. While in terms of tourism, the main/only attraction was a 12th-century castle built by Hungarian nobles.
On account of the geographically unfavourable location near the border, major trade or industrial businesses did not exist at that time and the whole district did not have any transportation infrastructure at all (neither railroad nor highway). This resulted in a scarcity of jobs, 70% weekly commuters to Vienna and a high rate of migration to other regions. At the time, the town was said to be hardly able to afford its annual €6 million (£4.7million) fuel bill.
To change this situation the “reformers” realised that substantial capital outflow from the region is due to the town’s energy being bought from outside sources. This included oil, power and fuels, while existing resources e.g. 45% forest land, remained largely unused.
Thus the “reformers” proposed to abandon fossile energy and start producing and subsequently selling energy to the citizens (customers) themselves. So they wanted to keep that € 6 Million (value for 1992, based on conventional energy prices of that year) in the city.
In the early 1990s, a policy was proposed which called for a complete abandonment of fossil-fuel-based energy. The objective was to supply, in a first step, the town of Güssing and subsequently the whole district with regionally available renewable energy sources.
The election of the town’s current mayor, Peter Vadasz, in 1992 accelerated the process, particularly when he appointed Reinhard Koch, an electrical engineer and native of Güssing, to assess how the town could benefit from its natural resources, i.e. forest land. Koch was "fresh" out of university and was not willing to share the destiny on many local commuters to Vienna.
The first step taken was to order that all public buildings in the town should stop using fossil fuels.
As result of the energetic optimisation of buildings in the town, expenditure on energy was reduced by almost 50%. Then a wood burning plant that provided heating for 27 houses was built. Then, a facility was constructed which turned rapeseed into car fuel.
In 1998, Koch and Vadasz saw a presentation by a Viennese scientist, Hermann Hofbauer, about a technology he had developed to make an alternative fuel from wood.
They asked Hofbauer and Vienna's Technical University to build a pilot project in Güssing applying the technology, where wood chips are gasified under high temperature conditions. Gas fuels a Jenbacher engine that produces electricity and the “by-product” heat is used to produce warm water for the district heating system. Plant efficiency about 82-85%. Research and development went further on, so Güssing hosts today a number of innovative technologies, solutions, and patents. There is a team of highly trained technicians and “imported” scientists working in Güssing today.
The renewable-energy project expanded to the region and there are today 27 decentralized power plants within the Güssing county. Güssing today has an “energy” turnover of about € 14 Million p.a. Part of the profit is invested back into renewable energy projects.
What effect has this had on the area? A special scheme (very easy – stable energy prices, not linked to oil & gas, guaranteed long-term, 10–15 years) promoting the establishment of enterprises in the area has brought 50 new enterprises with more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs in the city. (these 1000 jobs are in the City, region not calculated...). Güssing has since developed into an important location for industries with high energy consumption, such as parquetry production or hardwood drying. The real highlight is the Blue Chip Energy, first high-efficiency solar cell production in Austria, a Joint Venture with Solon AG, who came to Güssing only because they can power the plant with clean energy from the renewable resources.
The town is conscious about the resources and is keen to take care and look after the surrounding forest to ensure they have a good supply of renewable energy for the future. Added to which, the town is currently using less than half of its yearly wood growth supply to feed its power plants. Thus, no cutting the substance.
Within the process of becoming energy autonomous city, a number of proprietary technologies and patents developed, to be applied in different fields, such as photovoltaic, biomass, etc. Also, extensive experience in analysis, preparation and implementation of such projects was accumulated, that experience to be given to other cities and communities willing to go the same renewable way.
Güssing today enjoys truly international popularity. Thus, ECRE Güssing International AG was established as the central company to expose Güssing internationally (www.ecreag.com).
Significant power plants include a 2 MW electric power 4.5 MW thermic wood gas generator
Wood gas generator
A wood gas generator is a gasification unit which converts timber or charcoal into wood gas, a syngas consisting of atmospheric nitrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, traces of methane, and other gases, which - after cooling and filtering - can then be used to power an internal combustion engine or...
power plant in Güssing and, in nearby Strem
Strem
Strem is a town in the district of Güssing in Burgenland in Austria....
, a 0.5 MW electric power 0.5 MW thermic biomass gasification power plant using green silage re-growing raw materials like grass, clover, mains, sunflower.
As side effect, extra income is being brought into the town through eco-tourism. Visitors flock from around the world to gain inspiration from the town and keen to stay true to their eco-friendly roots, guests can stay in hotels that are heated and electrically powered all by renewables. Some 30,000 visitors were recorded during 2007.