On Monday, the roof of Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium was equipped with the final module of its new photovoltaic system, with over 9,000 modules in total. The installation was secured by Sports Councilor Peter Hacker (SPÖ) and Markus Ornig, the sports spokesperson for NEOS Wien. The energy plant on the stadium’s roof is expected to generate 3,880 megawatt-hours of electricity annually, which is equivalent to the annual consumption of 1,100 households.
“The emissions-free stadium was just a vision not long ago, and now we are close to implementation,” Hacker was quoted as saying in a statement. The Happel Stadium will produce more electricity than it consumes, making a significant contribution to environmental and climate protection in the city. “The emissions-free Happel Stadium is a strong signal for a climate-neutral Vienna by 2040,” Ornig added.
Following planning using a digital 3D model of the stadium, 9,300 modules, 80,000 trapezoidal rails, and over 5,000 PV optimizers were delivered by the end of November. With the photovoltaic system on the roof and the geothermal system beneath the renovated training grounds, the foundation for an emissions-free stadium has now been laid. In collaboration with Wien Energie and Wiener Netze, the solar power system will be fully connected by the end of 2025, and the generated energy will be fed into the existing stadium grid. Further plans include a network equipped with heat pumps and storage systems, as well as a connection to the neighboring stadium pool, where excess energy from the stadium will be used.
