Vienna relies on renewable energies: Europe's largest solar hall opens!

Vienna relies on renewable energies: Europe's largest solar hall opens!

Today's opening of the Sport Arena Vienna marks a historic step into the future of sustainable construction. This sports hall is the first of its kind in Austria to be powered entirely by renewable energy. The heart of this innovative facility is the largest photovoltaic thermal system in Europe, which majestically extends over an area of ​​approximately 2200 m² and consists of 1125 hybrid panels. The system produces an impressive 2.3 gigawatt hours of energy, which shows the potential in using solar energy. Loud The press The system relies on various elements of the energy system, including component activation, heat pumps and depth probes, to achieve the highest possible level of efficiency.

But the Sport Arena is just the tip of the iceberg. There are already several real estate projects in Vienna that also rely on solar thermal energy. An example is the Smart Block in Geblergasse with 25 apartments and the Meischlgasse urban district, which will include 1,900 apartments and is scheduled to be completed in 2027. These developments show that solar thermal energy should be urgently promoted in large cities like Vienna, despite often existing prejudices about the availability of space.

Vienna’s untapped solar potential

The Vienna solar potential register reveals that there are around 21 km² of suitable roof areas for solar thermal energy in the city, of which only 0.5% are currently being used. To cover 20% of the hot water requirement, 7.7 km² of collector area would be required. However, for a real energy transition to occur, 40% of suitable areas would be required. The higher efficiency of solar thermal energy, which is 3 to 4 times higher than that of photovoltaics, is often not used. For single-family home owners, the investment costs for solar thermal energy are limited: a one-off payment of 6,000 to 7,000 euros can cover around 70% of the hot water requirement. The break-even point for such systems is reached after about 15 years, while their lifespan is between 25 and 30 years.

The Vienna state government is working hard to promote the use of solar energy. From 2027 there will be new requirements: only public buildings that use solar energy may be built. This will gradually be extended to existing public buildings and will also apply to new residential buildings from 2030. There is also a solar bonus of 2,500 euros as part of the 2026 renovation offensive - a good opportunity for anyone who wants to make their home more sustainable.

Funding programs and opportunities

Regardless of the size of the planned project, there are numerous subsidies for photovoltaic systems in Vienna. This includes 0% sales tax and subsidies of up to 30% of the investment costs. The offer from Photovoltaikanlage.at is particularly relevant because interested parties can fill out secure forms here to receive non-binding offers for photovoltaic and solar thermal systems. Users can receive up to 4 individual offers for comparison - a great way to get an overview.

The solar-friendly conditions in Vienna prove that the city records around 2097 hours of sunshine per year, with an average global irradiation of 1231 kWh/m². This makes installing solar energy systems not only sensible, but also economically attractive, as solar power costs range between 5.81 and 8.04 cents per kWh, while grid power prices range between 40 and 60 cents per kWh.

The decisions in the coming years could be decisive in ensuring that Vienna not only remains a green city, but also becomes a pioneer in sustainable energy production. If you would like to apply for funding by December 31, 2025, you should not hesitate - time is short!