energy sources

Photovoltaic output from Wien Energie increases to 116 megawatts in the first half of the year – 60 additional systems in Vienna and several large-scale photovoltaic projects in operation by the end of 2023

Vienna (OTS) – Wien Energie is also investing intensively in the expansion of photovoltaics this year: in the first half of 2023, Wien Energie already put numerous photovoltaic systems into operation, including as part of the Vienna solar power offensive on the roof of the Wiener Linien main workshop in Simmering and the port of Vienna. The total output of the Wien Energie photovoltaic systems thus increases to 116 megawatts. The company has installed over 332,300 photovoltaic modules in over 400 systems. Overall, these systems can produce green electricity for the equivalent of around 58,000 Viennese households. As part of the City of Vienna’s solar power offensive, the focus is particularly on the roofs of public buildings such as public transport stations, hospitals, schools, sports halls and nursing homes. By the end of the year, around 60 photovoltaic systems will be installed here by Wien Energie, which have been intensively prepared, particularly in the last six months.

„The roofs are the greatest potential for sustainable energy generation in Vienna. These will become small eco-power plants in the middle of the city. With every new photovoltaic system, Vienna becomes more of a solar energy city! By 2030, as part of the Vienna solar power offensive, we want to generate enough energy from photovoltaics in the city to be able to supply the equivalent of 400,000 households in an environmentally friendly way. We are actively working together with Wien Energie to achieve these ambitious goals“, explains Peter Hanke, City Councilor for Economics and Wiener Stadtwerke.

„In order to achieve the climate goals, we must massively expand green energy production. We have therefore made it our goal to generate 1,000 megawatts of renewable electricity by 2030. We are therefore gradually picking up the pace. Photovoltaic systems on roofs alone will not be sufficient to cover the demand for renewable electricity in the future. We must use suitable areas throughout Austria in order to achieve the climate goals. We currently have more than 500 systems in the planning stage and around a third of them in the concrete planning stage in order to implement our expansion goals in the long term“, says the Chairman of the Wien Energie Management Board, Michael Strebl.

Construction of large ecological photovoltaic systems for Wien Energie

Specifically, in the first half of the year, Wien Energie began building two ecological large-scale photovoltaic systems. Two photovoltaic open spaces with a total output of around 30 megawatts are being built on 14 hectares each in Styria – in the municipality of Ratten and in the municipality of Gosdorf. The special thing regarding it: In order to promote biodiversity, Wien Energie specifically plants grasses and bushes and implements ecological measures such as stone and wood structures. In addition, nesting boxes provide a natural shelter for insects, reptiles and birds.