Austria’s national train operator, ÖBB, has unveiled plans to construct the country’s largest solar power installation at Vienna’s Westbahnhof.

According to the plans presented by ÖBB on Monday, the platform area will be completely roofed over, with solar panels covering an area equivalent to four football pitches, or 25,000 square metres.

The new photovoltaic system is expected to generate around 3,400 megawatt hours of electricity per year, equivalent to the annual requirements of some 850 households. This energy will be used to supply the shops and offices at Westbahnhof.

The project, estimated to cost around €50 million, is scheduled to begin construction in 2028. In addition to generating renewable energy, the new roof will provide passengers with protection from wind and weather. Furthermore, new additional seating will be installed as part of the redevelopment.

Politicians, including Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) and Vienna’s SPÖ party leader Josef Taucher, hailed the initiative as a showcase project that would help Vienna achieve its target of becoming climate-neutral by 2040.

Earlier this month, the City of Vienna announced that it had already met its 2024 target for expanding solar energy systems. Read more: Vienna Surpasses Solar Energy Goals