1.6 Electricity and district heat generation

It’s all courtesy of the sun: The Vienna Solar Power Campaign creates a fundamental framework for the expansion of photovoltaics and has boosted photovoltaic installations and output beyond all expectations. The target of 250 MWp of electricity generated by means of photovoltaics within the municipal borders, which had been envisaged for late 2025, was already achieved in early 2025.

A variety of consultancy services and ancillary campaigns, such as “Wien hat’s drauf!” and “Wien setzt eins drauf!” (a play on words meaning “Vienna is top!” while also alluding to PV panels atop roofs), as well as the 1, 2, 3 Solar Voucher support the inhabitants of Vienna in implementing their PV projects.

However, Vienna also makes good use of other renewable energy potentials, such as warm wastewater from the municipal treatment facility, residual heat from the Therme Wien hot springs or waste heat from a data centre. Since 2022, the Vienna Public Utilities have put numerous large-scale heat pumps that exploit these renewable heat potentials into operation. Other projects are ready for launching, such as a deep geothermal plant in the Seestadt Aspern urban expansion zone and other large-scale heat pumps installed in waste management facilities.

Wien Energie has earmarked over € 1 billion for decarbonisation investments. In the coming years, this budget will be dedicated to expanding the generation of renewable electricity, district heating networks and green gas production. The electricity provider Wiener Netze has replaced 95% of all electricity meters with smart meters.

National energy legislation, such as the Renewable Energy Expansion Act, closely reflects EU provisions. The massive decrease in the cost of equipment and plants across Europe over the past few years has led to a significant boost in the construction of wind and solar power plants. Moreover, the EU Emissions Trading System was further refined by means of two reform packages.

Finally, it should be noted that the numerous initiatives by the City of Vienna, the Federal Republic and the European Union will partly deploy their full effect only in the coming years. Vienna’s guiding principle is to lay the foundations for tomorrow already today.

Highlights:

• Since the launch of the Vienna Solar Power Campaign, the installed capacity has been increased nearly fivefold

• In the context of the Vienna Solar Power Campaign, the subsidy budget for photovoltaics and storage batteries was increased to € 15 million annually

• New subsidy focuses were created, also for enterprises

• Billion-euro investments by Wien Energie will boost the generation of renewable electricity, district heating networks and green gas production in and around Vienna

• Just one click to get a solar check – new and improved solar potential cadastre for Vienna

• A large-scale heat pump operated by Wien Energie with an output of 55 MW makes use of warm wastewater of the sewage treatment plant and generates district heat for 56,000 households

• Successful trial admixture of hydrogen to the gas turbine at the Donaustadt power plant of Wien Energie

• Start-up of the first hydrogen production plant in the 11 ^th municipal district Simmering

• The Vienna Electricity Act was simplified and rendered less bureaucratic