EESC Permanent Group on Energy visits Vienna to explore urban decarbonisation solutions

On 7 and 8 July, the EESC Permanent Group on Energy carried out a field visit to Vienna, organised in cooperation with the City of Vienna and Wien Stadtwerke, Vienna's public utilities company. The visit explored how Vienna, one of Europe's largest cities, is implementing its strategy to phase out fossil fuels in heating and decarbonise its energy supply by 2040, achieving a climate-neutral energy system.

Through exchanges with city authorities, local energy suppliers and network operators (Wien Energie and Wiener Netze), as well as visits to key energy infrastructure projects, our members gained insights into Vienna's integrated approach to energy transition, combining careful renewable energy planning, district heating, energy efficiency and citizen engagement.

A key message from Wien Energie Managing Director Ms Alma Kahler was that decarbonising urban heating and energy supply will require a diversified technology mix: Vienna is investing in district heating, heat pumps, biomass, geothermal energy, renewable gases and hydrogen, while progressively reducing its dependence on fossil fuels. At Wien Energie's Simmering site, the group visited a biomass combined heat and power plant and learned about the innovative Waste2Value project, which converts residual waste into climate-neutral fuels and hydrogen.

The visit also showcased Vienna's efforts to expand renewable electricity generation. At the Schafflerhofstraße photovoltaic plant, our members learned about innovative agri PV solutions combining solar power production with agricultural activities to maximise land use. The group also visited the DEEEP geothermal project, a pilot initiative part of a plan expected to provide climate-neutral district heating for up to 200,000 households.

Discussions at Wiener Netze highlighted the crucial role of energy infrastructure in the transition. The gradual phase-out of parts of the gas network, the expansion of district heating and the development of hydrogen applications for heavy mobility and hard-to-abate industries all require significant investment and a supportive regulatory framework.

During an exchange with Vienna's Executive City Councillor for Climate, Environment, Democracy and Personnel, Jürgen Czernohorszky, particular emphasis was placed on the social dimension of the transition. Indeed, Vienna has complemented its decarbonisation plans with advisory services, public information campaigns and targeted support measures to ensure public acceptance and citizen participation. An especially important focus is on the "100 Projects Phasing Out Gas" initiative, a catalogue showcasing successful examples of buildings and facilities that have replaced gas-based heating systems with renewable alternatives.

The visit demonstrated that successful urban decarbonisation does not depend on a single technology, but on an integrated strategy combining infrastructure, innovation, governance and public engagement. Vienna's experience offers valuable lessons for cities across Europe seeking to accelerate the clean energy transition while maintaining affordable and reliable energy for citizens.

Key takeaways

• Decarbonising urban heating is one of the biggest challenges of the energy transition and requires a diverse mix of solutions, including district heating, geothermal energy, heat pumps, biomass and renewable gases.

• Strong cooperation between city authorities, utilities and network operators is essential to align climate objectives with energy planning and infrastructure development.

• Long-term investment in networks and renewable energy infrastructure must be supported by clear and stable regulatory frameworks.

• Public acceptance is a key success factor, requiring citizen engagement, advisory services and targeted support measures.