Vienna Airport is setting further standards in terms of in-house production of electrical energy. With the recent commissioning of its tenth photovoltaic system and a comprehensive strategy to reduce CO2 emissions, the airport is not only a pioneer in Austria, but also an international example.
Commitment not only contributes to achieving ambitious climate goals, but also offers solutions to the challenges of the energy transition. However, the CO2 emissions produced by the airlines operating there are not included. The measures taken by the airport only relate to its own operations.
Vienna Airport's tenth photovoltaic system was recently officially put into operation. This system comprises more than 5.000 solar modules with a production capacity of around 4 megawatts/peak and generates around 4 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually. In total, the airport now has 78.000 solar panels installed on an area of around 46 hectares, producing around 46 million kilowatt hours of solar power annually. This corresponds to around half of the airport's own electricity needs, which not only saves costs but also makes the energy supply more sustainable.
Despite the positive developments in the field of renewable energies, Vienna Airport, like many other producers of solar power, is facing new challenges. Günther Ofner, CEO of the airport, points to the growing problem of negative electricity prices. In May 2024, there were already 78 hours in Austria in which the electricity price was negative. This occurs when there is an oversupply of solar power, so that producers have to pay for it when they feed electricity into the grid. According to Ofner, solving this problem requires both the expansion of the electricity grids and investments in large-scale battery storage. Vienna Airport is ready to invest in these technologies, but is calling for an adjustment of the regulatory framework by E-Control to make this possible.
Since the beginning of 2023, Vienna Airport has been operating its operations in a CO2-neutral manner, according to its own statements. This ambitious goal was achieved through a variety of measures. In addition to the production of solar power, the airport is supplied with CO2-neutral district heating, which is provided by the use of industrial waste heat. The airport's fleet now includes around 450 electric vehicles. Office Park 4, a modern office building on the airport site, is heated by geothermal energy. In addition, an intelligent building management system has been implemented to ensure efficient control of energy consumption. The switch to LED lighting has also contributed to significant savings. These measures have enabled the airport to reduce its energy consumption by around 2011% and its CO40 emissions by around 2% since 70. However, it should be expressly pointed out that Flughafen Wien AG's statement that it would operate in a CO2-neutral manner only refers to its own operations. The emissions of the airlines operating there, which account for the lion's share, are not included.
However, Vienna Airport is not resting on its laurels. The next big goal is to completely reduce CO2 emissions to net zero by 2033 at the latest. This means that all remaining emissions will either be completely avoided or compensated through CO2 offsetting measures. This ambitious goal requires continued innovative solutions and close cooperation with all stakeholders involved, including the Austrian government and the energy industry.
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