Following the successful Living Lab workshop held earlier this year, FLEXI continued its engagement with students from the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein through a second workshop at the Green Energy Center Europe in Innsbruck on 27 April 2026.
This follow-up visit welcomed Bachelor students from the Energy and Sustainability Management programme and further strengthened the connection between academic education, applied research and innovation in the clean energy transition. While the first workshop introduced MSc students to the Living Lab environment and the role of FLEXI, REINFORCE and H2CoVE, the second workshop expanded this learning format to Bachelor students, supporting earlier-stage engagement with real-world energy system applications.
Building on a Proven Living Lab Format
The second workshop built on the structure of the previous Living Lab session, ensuring continuity in the learning experience while adapting the exchange to Bachelor-level students. The programme combined theoretical input, guided demonstrations and interactive discussion to show how integrated energy systems are developed, tested and demonstrated in operational environments.
By repeating and extending the workshop format, FLEXI and its partners reinforced the value of Living Labs as practical learning spaces where students can connect classroom knowledge with real infrastructure, technology demonstrations and applied research challenges.
Exploring Applied Energy Systems in Practice
During the visit, students gained insight into the Living Lab infrastructure at GEC Europe and the FEN Research GmbH laboratories. The workshop introduced key components of integrated and flexible energy systems, including short-term energy storage through batteries and energy monitoring systems, as well as long-term energy storage through the Hydrogen Smart Container provided by EDC-Anlagentechnik GmbH.
FLEXI: Making Energy Flexibility Tangible
One of the workshop’s key objectives was to make the concept of energy flexibility more tangible for students. FLEXI was presented as a project exploring how digital tools, user engagement, and flexible energy services can support a citizen-centred energy transition.
Working in the context of the Living Lab, students were able to gain a better understanding of how FLEXI connects technical innovation with the social and behavioural aspects of energy use. The project’s emphasis on citizen engagement, digital modelling, and flexibility-oriented services illustrates how households, communities, and other energy users can actively participate in the development of future energy systems.
Strengthening Future Energy Skills Through Experiential Learning
The second Living Lab workshop confirmed the importance of hands-on learning in preparing students for the challenges of the clean energy transition. By engaging Bachelor students at an early stage of their academic path, FLEXI and its partners helped create a stronger connection between theoretical education, practical system understanding and innovation-driven research.