Practical necessity and legal options for introducing energy regulatory sandboxes in Austria

As the legal framework is designed for an established energy regime, innovative solutions for the energy transition often encounter barriers. Since rapid changes in the legal framework may involve uncertainties, testing solutions in the exceptional framework of regulatory sandboxes can be a constructive instrument of innovation policy. Until June 2021, Austrian energy law contains neither an explicit authorisation to grant such exemptions nor custom-made regulatory sandboxes. This paper is the first to investigate the practical need for regulatory sandboxes in Austria (specific fields of experimentation were identified) and elaborate necessary changes for energy law eligibility, taking European law into account.