1. Solar power plant opened in Vienna: Makes the subway green!

<Ol> <li> Solar power plant opened in Vienna: Makes the subway green! </li> </l>

On April 22, 2025, the latest photovoltaic system of the Vienna lines was put into operation at the Michelbeuern-Akh U6 station. With this system, a total of 20 photovoltaics (PV) systems on the roofs of various public transport in Vienna are now active, which contribute to the power supply of lighting, escalators and lifts in the stations. The PV offensive, which was started in cooperation with Vienna Energie, began in 2021 with the first facility at the Ottakring U3 station.

The new system at the U6 station uses 843 blend-arm modules from Austria and has a maximum output of 362 kilowatt peak (KWP). The overall performance of all PV modules on the roofs of the Viennese lines amounts to impressive 4,753 kilowatts, enough to supply around 2,400 Viennese average households 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 the efficiency and commitment of the Vienna lines for sustainable energies, as well as Wiener Linien.

power supply and efficiency

The Operations' facilities of the Viennese lines use the generated electricity almost completely, either directly on site or via a special internal power grid. On sunny days, the systems produce even more electricity than is required on site, the surplus being fed into the public network. This contributes to reducing the dependence on fossil fuels and to reduce CO2 emissions, which is in harmony with global goals for sustainable development

The subway in Vienna is operated via a separate power grid, which is completely supplied with green electricity. Gudrun Senk, the manager responsible for the Viennese lines, announced that the solar power offensive will continue. By 2025, around ten other solar power plants are planned that will expand the existing infrastructure.

renewable energies in the global context

The efforts to renewable energies are not only locally, but also globally important. As reported destatis, renewable energies played a role in covering almost 19% of the worldwide final energy consumption. In recent years, global electricity generation from renewable sources has increased steadily, with a total of 9,029 terawatt hours (TWH) generated in 2023.

A remarkable increase is particularly evident in the area of ​​solar energy. Between 2010 and 2023, the installed performance increased by forty times. These developments underline the importance of projects such as the photovoltaic offensive of the Viennese lines, which can significantly contribute to the sustainable energy generation of the future.