Wien Energie is investing 90 million euros in innovative refrigeration systems!

Wien Energie is investing 90 million euros in innovative refrigeration systems!

Wien Energie has big plans for the coming years: a total of 90 million euros will be invested in the expansion of district cooling. The background is rising temperatures and an increasing need for cooling in summer. In 2024, 53 “tropical nights” were counted in the city center on which the temperature did not fall below 20 degrees. Michael Strebl, Managing Director of Wien Energie, emphasizes the importance of efficient cooling for the comfort and health of citizens.

A central component of these investments is the renewal of the refrigeration machine in the district cooling center on Schottenring. The installation of a new machine, which weighs 23 tons and is an impressive 7.5 meters long, took place in just two nights. This means that the output of the refrigeration machine has increased from just under two megawatts to an impressive 20 megawatts. In addition, a new district cooling center with a six megawatt refrigeration machine is being built in Floridsdorf.

Critical infrastructure for a hot climate

Further measures include the construction of an ice storage facility at the cooling center in Alsergrund. This is intended to help absorb peak consumption and ensure stable cooling. The chillers cool water to around five degrees, which is then distributed to various buildings. The connected customers include well-known institutions such as the General Hospital (AKH), ​​the Ronacher musical theater and the Natural History Museum (NHM) and numerous apartments with district cooling infrastructure.

Wien Energie's investments are not only a response to local weather conditions, but also reflect a global trend. More and more cities, including Munich, are investing in environmentally friendly cooling solutions in order to better meet the increasing demand for cooling. The Stadtwerke München (SWM) relies on sustainable technologies such as highly efficient compression refrigeration systems and renewable energies for cooling.

A look into the future

Projects like the ecological cooling supply in Munich, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, show that people are thinking far beyond the city limits. All CO2 emissions are significantly reduced and the growing demand due to climate change and customers' increasing demands for comfort are taken into account.Wien Energie is also committed to the goal of meeting cooling needs smartly and sustainably. These are invested euros that have high priority in a warming world.

With the consistent implementation of these projects, Wien Energie is sending a clear signal for the future and sees itself well equipped to meet the challenges of climate change. The coming years therefore promise not only a pleasant cooling down in hot summers, but also a step in a more sustainable direction for the entire city.