In January 2023, Austria’s average wholesale electricity price surpassed 145 euros per megawatt hour. Five months earlier, Austria’s electricity prices reached a record high at around 489.5 euros per megawatt. Since 2021, figures have soared across Europe, resulting from an energy shortage.
However, the City of Vienna plans to use its “Energy Plan 2050” to reduce energy consumption by 50% compared to 2005 by switching to renewable energy sources. Renewable energy is one of the cleanest, most cost-friendly, and most good sources, especially since they are inexhaustible. Austria is one of the top countries in Europe to use renewable energy sources, especially in Vienna.
Renewable Ways to Generate Electricity
Renewable energy sources have started to gain popularity over the years due to the advantages it brings. Since electricity has gotten expensive everywhere over the past years, the switch to renewable sources has almost been natural. Not only is it sustainable, but it also helps us stay afloat during inflation.
There are five primary sources that Vienna uses as its main source of energy. These include:
- Hydropower
- Windpower
- Biomass
- Solar Power
- Pulp Production
Hydropower
Hydropower is the most economical form of energy supply, and Vienna is a prime example of how a city uses hydropower to generate sustainable and renewable energy. Several hydropower plants are located along the Danube River and smaller rivers. These power plants generate electricity by diverting water through turbines to generate electricity.
Vienna’s commitment to hydropower plants perfectly aligns with Austria’s goal of reaching 100% clean and renewable energy by 2030. The city’s investment has earned it a reputation as a leader in green living and improved the quality of life for its residents.
Windpower
Photo by Karsten Würth on Unsplash
The primary renewable energy source after hydropower is wind power since it’s very affordable and efficient. Vienna has several wind farms on the city’s outskirts. Although Austria is landlocked, it is named the seventeenth largest producer of wind energy. The small farm of Bruk a der Leitha, which is around 45km southeast of Vienna, is the main source of wind farms, intending to move the entire town to renewable energy when it starts. These wind farms are strategically placed in areas with high wind and are equipped with turbines to convert wind energy to electric energy. These farms produce green energy to power homes, businesses, and public buildings. In addition to the wind farms, Vienna has also implemented rooftop wind turbines on buildings throughout the city
Biomass
Solar Energy
Vienna is the leader in solar power. Using a large-scale solar power plant to generate clean heat and energy, Vienna relies on solar power for 8% of its total energy source. According to the city’s energy agency, they even have plans to improve this percentage over the years.
In 2012, solar panels were applied on the roofs of houses and buildings so residents could use them and get renewable energy. The largest solar plant in Vienna is located in Floridsdorf and has a capacity of over 1.6 megawatts, making it one of the giant solar panels in Europe.
Solar energy also helps reduce the city’s dependency on fossil fuels, which are harmful to the environment and responsible for climate change’s effects. According to the city’s energy agency, using solar panels and energy saves around 10,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year.
Pulp Production
Since Vienna is known to use renewable energy sources to help defeat climate change and carbon emissions, it has also started to use pulp production to generate electricity.
Pulp production is a process that takes the pulp from trees and turns it into paper and other materials. However, this material has a ton of waste, like bark and other residues, which are then used to generate energy. Using these waste products prevents them from going to landfills, which causes pollution and other significant environmental issues.
The plant that develops it has a capacity of 17 MW and can provide electricity and heat for over 34,000 households. It also brings in more job opportunities for people, which is better for the city’s economic situation and reduces dependency on traditional factories.
Overall, Vienna is one of the top countries to use renewable energy sources to make the world a cleaner and more sustainable place to live in.
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