1. Solar power plant opens in Vienna: Makes the subway greener!

<ol> <li>Solar power plant opens in Vienna: Makes the subway greener!</li> </ol>

On April 22, 2025, the newest photovoltaic system on the Wiener Linien went into operation at the U6 station Michelbeuern-AKH. With this system, a total of 20 photovoltaic (PV) systems are now active on the roofs of various public transport systems in Vienna, which contribute to the power supply for lighting, escalators and lifts in the stations. The PV offensive, which was launched in cooperation with Wien Energie, began in 2021 with the first system at the U3 station Ottakring.

The new system at the U6 station uses 843 low-glare modules from Austria and has a maximum output of 362 kilowatt peak (kWp). The total output of all PV modules on the roofs of the Wiener Linien is an impressive 4,753 kilowatts, enough to supply around 2,400 average Viennese households with electricity per year. The total area of ​​the installed solar modules extends over a length of 19 kilometers, which is longer than the entire U4 route from Heiligenstadt to Hütteldorf. This data confirms Wiener Linien's efficiency and commitment to sustainable energy, as also reported by Wiener Linien.

Power supply and efficiency

Wiener Linien's operations use almost all of the electricity generated, either directly on site or via a special internal power grid. On sunny days, the systems even produce more electricity than is needed locally, with the excess being fed into the public grid. This helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels and lower carbon emissions, which is in line with global sustainable development goals.

The subway in Vienna is operated via a separate power grid that is completely powered by green electricity. Gudrun Senk, the manager responsible for Wiener Linien, announced that the solar power offensive will be continued. Around ten more solar power plants are planned by 2025, which will expand the existing infrastructure.

Renewable energies in a global context

Renewable energy efforts are important not only locally but also globally. As Destatis reports, renewable energies played a role in covering almost 19% of global final energy consumption in 2021. In recent years, global electricity generation from renewable sources has steadily increased, with a total of 9,029 terawatt hours (TWh) being generated in 2023.

There has been a notable increase, particularly in the area of ​​solar energy. Between 2010 and 2023, installed capacity increased forty-fold. These developments underline the importance of projects such as the Wiener Linien photovoltaic offensive, which can make a significant contribution to sustainable energy production in the future.

In summary, the opening of the solar power plant at the Michelbeuern-AKH U6 station is a significant step towards more sustainable energy use in Vienna's public transport and at the same time shows a positive impact on the global development of renewable energies.