Vienna Energiesolution: The future of district cooling for a greener life!

Vienna Energiesolution: The future of district cooling for a greener life!

A lot is happening in the area of ​​air conditioning in Vienna. The municipal utilities have committed themselves to a major goal: to make Vienna the district cooling capital of Europe. “Our vision is to establish environmentally friendly cooling as a key technology for a city worth living in,” explains Georg Geissegger, head of planning and construction at Wien Energie, in a new series of interviews LEADERSNET. This becomes particularly urgent as last summer was one of the warmest in 250 years, increasing the need for efficient cooling.

The concept of district cooling works similarly to the well-known district heating: cold is generated in large cooling centers, transported to consumers through a separate pipe system and distributed there via ventilation systems. “We use the Danube Canal water as a recooling medium, which is a particularly environmentally friendly solution,” adds Geissegger. Less than one percent of the water is used for this purpose without having a negative impact on the environment.

A network in growth

Wien Energie now operates a 30-kilometer-long district cooling network with numerous centers, such as those on Stubenring and Schottenring. Around 220 customers, including large institutions such as the Natural History Museum and hospitals, are already enjoying the benefits of this climate-friendly cooling. The system has an output of around 240 megawatts and is growing by 10 percent annually. “With innovative solutions such as the newly developed ice storage, we can also cover consumption peaks,” reveals Geissegger, alluding to a technology that turns cold water into ice and releases cold when it defrosts.

There is a particular focus on the new MedUni campus in Mariannengasse, which will be integrated into the district cooling system as the main consumer. The demand for this climate-friendly solution is high, especially since district cooling can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 50 percent compared to conventional air conditioning systems. This is an important development in an environment where hot days are increasing due to the climate crisis.

Challenges and future prospects

Of course, there are also challenges when expanding such systems. “The effort involved in retrofitting existing buildings can be high if they are not already close to the network. But in the case of core renovations, the investment can be well worth it,” says Geissegger. Experts therefore recommend integrating efficient cooling concepts when planning new buildings in order to minimize the heating of urban spaces.

Vienna is not alone with its vision; Numerous cities around the world are already relying on district cooling systems, including Paris, Toronto and Munich. But as Geissegger emphatically emphasizes: “We have the potential to become leaders here and make a major contribution to a climate-friendly city.” It becomes clear that consistency and innovation must go hand in hand in order to achieve the goals set.

In summary, the future of cooling in Vienna is green, and the city has the potential to serve as a role model for other cities. The next few years will be crucial in driving expansion and adaptation to climatic changes. The district cooling network is an elementary step in the right direction.