It is true that climate change requires a joint effort and that we all have a role to play in reducing the impact on the environment. Vienna is one of the European cities that leads the way in the field of environmental protection and climate policy. The city is known for its ambitious plans for sustainable development, including changes in energy, transport and waste management.
Vienna is focusing on the transition to renewable energy sources, improving the energy efficiency of buildings, developing public transport and bike paths, as well as implementing green initiatives such as urban parks and green roofs. In this process, public companies are an important link that, each in their own way, contribute to the common goal.
Green energy for everyone
The citizens of Vienna can participate in the energy transition and the expansion of renewable energy sources through the solar power plants of the company “Wien Energie”, thereby contributing to a sustainable energy future without having to set up their own power plant. The model works in a simple way. “Wien Energie” builds and operates solar power plants, while users can symbolically participate in the project by purchasing a “solar package”. The price of one solar package last time was 250 euros. For the energy produced, users receive vouchers for five years, which they can use, for example, during the annual calculation of the electricity bill. The amount of compensation in the form of vouchers depends on the amount of energy produced, and participants can monitor the production live through an online dashboard. However, a minimum annual production is also guaranteed to ensure that users definitely benefit. This offer was very well received; 30 such power plants have been built so far, and more than 12,000 households have participated in these projects. The quota of the solar power plant that was put into operation in the spring of 2024 on the roof of the bus garage was sold out within one day.
IN FOCUS:
Energy and climate transition
With a bus powered by a combination of battery and hydrogen, Vienna’s public city transport company “Wiener Linien” consistently continues the path towards new, environmentally friendly technologies. Back in February of this year, a new competence center for electromobility was opened, and so far six bus lines have completely switched to electric drive. It is planned that by the end of 2025, nine bus lines will be switched to electric drive. In addition to new small buses with “range extender” technology, in 2025 only hydrogen-powered buses will be put into use. Ten 12-meter-long buses, which are adapted for disabled people and people with reduced mobility, will in the future be filled with hydrogen at the station of the energy companies “Wien Energie” and “Wiener Netze”.
In order to achieve climate neutrality and adapt to climate change, the Department for Climate Issues was established in the city of Vienna, which manages strategic climate policy, the implementation of the Vienna Climate Strategy and the Vienna Climate Budget. Jürgen Černohorski, member of the Vienna City Government for climate, environment, democracy and personnel, explained how they implement their ideas.
– The energy and climate transition concerns all of us and can only succeed with joint efforts. We must all work together to make Vienna climate neutral and maintain its high quality of life. We set up strategic initiatives that strengthen awareness of the overall culture of a climate-neutral, resilient and circular city. Only through joint efforts can the city achieve its ambitious climate goals. We speak openly about the challenges, address citizens and offer targeted education on climate change for young and old. Climate change education explains cause-and-effect relationships and shows how climate transition can succeed. Through the Vienna Climate Team, we enabled citizens to present their ideas for a better climate in their neighborhood and to implement them together with the city’s experts. A representatively selected group of residents decides in each district which projects will be implemented with the available financial resources. We also work closely with non-governmental organizations and local multipliers in order to create synergies and learn from each other – says Černohorski.
Vienna’s climate plan includes measures in the areas of mobility, energy, but also circular economy and public services. As our interlocutor points out, Vienna stands for socially just climate protection that leaves no one behind.
– Vienna’s 2040 heating plan, published in May, offers for the first time a concrete target that shows how supplying heat to buildings without the use of fossil fuels could look like by 2040. In this plan, the entire stock of buildings in the city area is taken into account, and it is shown in which areas the expansion of district heating (which will be produced completely climate neutral by 2040) comes into consideration, and where other solutions will be needed. In Vienna, great importance is attached to the exemplary performance of the public sector, especially in the rehabilitation of public buildings – explains Černohorski.
Arranged by: Jasna Dragojević
Read the full text in To the magazine of the Energy Portal, ENERGY TRANSITION
Source: energetskiportal.rs
