2023-10-21 08:00:46
Heating season begins – 2.5 terawatt hours of non-Russian gas make district heating supply in Vienna more independent – heat supply secured, storage tank 98.5% full
Vienna (OTS) – After an above-average start to October, temperatures are now falling significantly and the heating season is beginning. As the geopolitical situation continues to be tense, Wien Energie has taken numerous measures to ensure heat supplies in the coming winter. A key milestone is the procurement of large quantities of non-Russian natural gas in order to further reduce dependence.
Together with a long-standing trading partner, Wien Energie, as Austria’s largest energy supplier, was able to secure 2.5 terawatt hours of natural gas from alternative producers, mostly from Norway, for district heating generation. This corresponds to a good 30 percent of the gas required in the 2023/24 heating season or the equivalent of the annual heating requirements of 300,000 households. Together with the well-filled storage facilities, waste incineration and stored heating oil, the heat supply might be maintained even in the event of an unexpected stop in deliveries from Russia.
“Wien Energie is making massive efforts to further reduce its dependence on Russian natural gas. I very much welcome the fact that we managed to get 30 percent of the required quantities from non-Russian sources for this heating season. This makes district heating in Vienna more independent and the people of Vienna can rely on a reliable heat supply even in times of crisis!”, emphasizes Peter Hanke, City Councilor for Economic Affairs and Vienna Public Utilities.
“Security of supply is our top priority. Last year we procured one terawatt hour from alternative producers, and this year we were able to significantly increase this proportion once more. Our storage capacities are well filled at around 98.5 percent, so we are very well positioned for the winter. But it’s also important: In the long term, we have to get out of natural gas 100 percent – regardless of which supplier. Large heat pumps, geothermal energy and hydrogen are the means of choice here,” said Michael Strebl, Chairman of the Wien Energie Management Board.
Wien Energie is incurring additional costs of a good one million euros to procure the non-Russian natural gas.
Getting out of gas brings independence and price stability
The Vienna district heating system is already one of Europe’s pioneering models and, thanks to its central and efficient generation, is one of the most environmentally friendly forms of heating. Currently, a good half of Vienna’s district heating comes from combined heat and power plants that run on natural gas. Thermal power plants are also used to cover peaks (less than 10 percent). About a third comes from waste incineration, the rest comes from industrial waste heat, biomass and geothermal and ambient heat.
By 2040, district heating should be completely climate-neutral and therefore independent of fossil fuels such as natural gas. Large heat pumps and geothermal energy are primarily used for this purpose. Specifically, the most powerful large-scale heat pump in Europe will be put into operation this year. It will use the waste heat from the sewage treatment plant in Simmering and, when fully expanded, will generate district heating for the equivalent of up to 112,000 households from 2027.
“In order to become independent of global energy crises and exploding wholesale prices in the future, it is necessary to increase the proportion of renewables in district heating and to avoid using fossil fuels in heat generation,” explains Strebl and continues: “The higher the proportion of waste heat, geothermal energy and renewables in district heating, the more stable the prices will be for our customers.“In the short term, the company is implementing relief measures for its district heating customers. With the new partial amounts for the 2023/24 heating season or the 2024 calendar year, an average Viennese household can expect running costs that are 20 to 50 percent lower than in the previous year, depending on the contract, with constant consumption.
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Questions & Contact:
Lisa Grohs
Company spokesperson
+43 (0)664 623 2005
lisa.grohs@wienenergie.at
1697875767
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