{"id":183607,"date":"2026-10-05T11:34:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T09:34:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greentech.at\/montanuni-leoben-startet-doctoral-school-chess\/"},"modified":"2026-10-28T12:25:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T11:25:33","slug":"montanuni-leoben-startet-doctoral-school-chess","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greentech.at\/en\/montanuni-leoben-startet-doctoral-school-chess\/","title":{"rendered":"Technical University of Leoben launches the CHESS Doctoral School"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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In September 2026, a groundbreaking draft bill on geological carbon storage (CCS \u2013 Carbon Capture and Storage) was submitted for consultation in Austria. The federal government, comprising the \u00d6VP and SP\u00d6, together with the NEOS, has presented a draft of a new Carbon Dioxide Storage Act (KSp-G). This is intended to lift the strict ban on domestic CO\u2082 storage, which has been in force since 2011, and to establish a legal framework for the geological storage of carbon dioxide.<\/p>

The Technical University of Leoben is responding promptly to these current developments in energy and industrial policy: with the new Doctoral School CHESS \u2013 CCUS & Hydrogen Systems Engineering School, it is bringing together research expertise in the fields of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), hydrogen and the transformation of energy- and emission-intensive industries. \u201cWith this new programme, the Technical University of Leoben offers forward-looking and practice-oriented training that specifically prepares students to solve current technological challenges competently and sustainably,\u201d explains Professor Thomas Kienberger from the Chair of Energy Systems Engineering at the Technical University of Leoben.<\/p>

Around a third of Austria\u2019s greenhouse gas emissions originate in industry. Whilst renewable gases, greater energy efficiency and the electrification of industrial processes represent key levers for decarbonisation, certain emissions cannot be completely avoided. These include, in particular, processes in lime and cement production, conventional steelmaking processes and thermal waste treatment. These sectors are considered particularly difficult to decarbonise \u2013 referred to internationally as \u2018hard to abate\u2019.<\/p>

Complementary technological solutions are needed for these emissions: a shift to new manufacturing processes, the capture and utilisation of CO\u2082 for chemical products (CCU \u2013 Carbon Capture and Utilisation) or its permanent storage in geological formations (CCS \u2013 Carbon Capture and Storage). The discussion now underway regarding a new legal framework for CO\u2082 storage underlines the high relevance of the research questions addressed by CHESS.<\/p>

\u201cThe decarbonisation of industry will only succeed if we take a holistic approach to technological development, energy and infrastructure systems, and the responsible use of the geological subsurface. With CHESS, we are creating an interdisciplinary research platform to develop concrete scientific foundations for the transformation of hard-to-abate industries in Austria,\u201d explains Thomas Kienberger.<\/p>

\u201cThe decarbonisation of industry will only succeed if we take a holistic approach to technological development, energy and infrastructure systems, and the responsible use of the geological subsurface. With CHESS, we are creating an interdisciplinary research platform to develop concrete scientific foundations for the transformation of hard-to-abate industries in Austria,\u201d explains Thomas Kienberger.<\/p>

Taking an integrated view of hydrogen and CCUS<\/h2>

The transformation of industrial processes towards climate neutrality requires a perspective that spans the material, process, technology and system levels. Hydrogen- and CCUS-based transformation pathways each place different demands on industrial plants, energy and transport infrastructures, and potential geological storage sites.<\/p>

The CHESS Doctoral School is therefore investigating three key questions in particular:<\/b><\/p>