JR is one of the largest non-university research institutions in
Austria. Its role as an innovative partner for business and
administration is reflected in its wide range of services: apart from
applied research and development for small and medium-sized enterprises,
it offers custom-designed technical business consulting and vast
expertise in interdisciplinary management of complex research contracts
at a national and international level.
JR has led several important studies on reduced emissions from
deforestation and degradation (REDD), and is considered a leading expert
group on the technical and scientific issues of REDD. The research team
at JR also focuses on renewable energy sources, and the relationships
between land use and global climate change (carbon balances of land use,
forestry, bioenergy and wood products).
It develops energy systems at corporate,
local and regional levels, and prepares studies on energy management
and environmental policy issues. It assesses perspectives for future
transport systems using biofuels (e.g. bioethanol), hydrogen or
electricity, and analyses the technical, environmental and economic
aspects. JR coordinates the International Energy Agency’s
Network on GHG balances of biomass and bioenergy systems (IEA Bioenergy
task 38, 'GHG Balances of Biomass and Bioenergy Systems') and
participates in the task 'Biorefineries'.
The task analyses and
integrates information on bioenergy, land use, and greenhouse gas (GHG)
mitigation; thereby covering all components that constitute a biomass or
bioenergy system, i.e. from biomass production to bioenergy conversion
and end use. The ultimate goal is to aid policy and industry decision
makers in selecting mitigation strategies that optimise GHG benefits
while being practical and cost effective. JR is a member of the new
EuropeAid funded project RE-Impact, which aims to develop and promote an
impact assessment framework to identify and assess appropriate areas for
integrated bioenergy land-use systems, considering sustainable
(renewable production), pro-poor, water allocation equity and
biodiversity issues in South Africa, India, Uganda and China. JR also
participates in national and international networks like the Bioenergy
NoE, the EU Technology Platform Hydrogen and Fuel Cells and the HYCentA.
Print Version 
