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Vienna networks in transition: Farewell to Maderbacher and new challenges!
In 2025, Wiener Netze will face challenges in network expansion and the integration of renewable energies for climate neutrality.
Vienna networks in transition: Farewell to Maderbacher and new challenges!
A radical restructuring of the energy infrastructure is imminent in Vienna. Wiener Netze, Austria's largest combined network operator, faces several challenges at the end of 2025. In addition to the integration of solar power and the closure of gas pipelines, the entire organization also has to cope with the impending retirement of Managing Director Thomas Maderbacher, whose successor Thomas Angerer has already been appointed. Maderbacher leaves behind a resilient network that must not only remain stable, but also change at the same time in order to meet the requirements of the future. This reports Energy News Magazine.
The electricity network, operated by Wiener Netze, stretches over an impressive 20,800 kilometers, accompanied by 4,600 kilometers of gas pipelines and 1,300 kilometers of district heating pipelines. In addition, over 2,900 kilometers of fiber optic cables have been installed, which are essential for digital transformation. In the last ten years, the Vienna networks have installed around 40,000 photovoltaic systems and 19 wind turbines and founded around 700 energy communities. Investments in the expansion and adaptation of the infrastructure have amounted to an impressive 1.7 billion euros in the last five years, and 2.2 billion euros are planned for the coming years by 2030 - more than 80% of this exclusively in the electricity sector.
Necessary change
In order to achieve its climate goals, Vienna plans to become climate neutral by 2040. The gradual phase-out of gas is already underway: eight years ago there were 660,000 gas connections, today there are only 560,000. Angerer emphasizes that new processes and digitalization are central to driving this change. Also important in this context is the required introduction of a new gas industry law, which should end the obligation to connect gas.
Another point is the shortage of skilled workers. In order to be able to overcome the many challenges, 1,400 new employees will have to be hired over the next few years. This includes not only electrical engineers, but also IT specialists and construction managers. In order to meet the increasing demand for qualified workers, the training of apprentices is intensively supported.
Digital solutions for a complex system
The transformation of the energy system is inevitable. In order to create the necessary change, a variety of digital solutions are needed. Like that Federal Ministry of Economics describes,
it's about mastering the complexity of the system. Thousands of renewable generation plants that operate depending on the weather are replacing centralized power plants. In this context, intelligent measurement systems, good communication technologies and data analyzes are central to creating the necessary information base.
Innovative approaches, such as the Future Energy Lab, show how important networking between the energy and digital industries is. New technologies and concepts are tested there that also support emission-free energy generation. Projects like Data4Grid lay the foundation for data-based methods in electricity distribution networks and show that the exchange of information between actors is essential.
The Vienna networks are on an exciting path that not only affects the local energy system, but also has an impact on the entire energy industry. Here it is important to look into the future with a good hand and master the challenges together.