Alexander Bauer

Alexander Bauer is an Associate Professor at the Institut für Landtechnik (Institute for Land Technology) within the Department of Agrarwissenschaften at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). His research is deeply integrated into sustainable agricultural systems, with a strong emphasis on energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, and digital transformation in farming. He leads a wide array of research projects funded by the EU, national ministries, and industry partners, focusing on biogas, biomass pretreatment, and agrivoltaics.

• Research Focus: His primary interests include Agrartechnik, AgriPV, energy-efficient agriculture, biogas, digital agriculture, smart farming, and bioenergy. He investigates the technical, economic, and ecological aspects of integrating renewable energy systems into agricultural landscapes, particularly through agrivoltaics and advanced biomass conversion technologies like steam explosion.

His recent publications and projects demonstrate a strong trend toward integrated land-use systems, particularly agrivoltaics, where he conducts life cycle assessments of innovative stilted and vertical bifacial systems. His work also explores the valorization of agricultural and animal wastes (e.g., horse and elephant manure) into biogas and high-value nanocellulose, contributing to circular economy models. The use of digital technologies for precision farming and innovation labs is another key theme.

• Scientific Honors:
  • Dr.-Berthold-Pohl-Stipendium - Südtirol (2009)
  • AFEMA-Förderpreis für Nachwuchswissenschaftler (2005)

Bauer actively advises and collaborates on numerous research initiatives. He has been a principal investigator on projects related to digitalization in agriculture, biogas optimization, and agrivoltaic system evaluation. His work is supported by significant grants from the EU, Austrian federal ministries, FFG, and private enterprises. He is a frequent contributor to major scientific conferences in the fields of sustainable energy, agriculture, and life cycle assessment.

• Laboratories and Teams: He is a key member of the DiLaAg - Digitalisation and Innovation Laboratory in Agricultural Sciences and leads research within the Institute for Land Technology. He collaborates extensively with interdisciplinary teams across BOKU, including institutes for plant production, engineering biology, landscape planning, and sustainable business development.