Vienna Westbahnhof receives largest inner-city PV system

It will be built at Vienna’s Westbahnhof. The platform area will be completely covered by the ÖBB. The facility will cover an area of ​​around four football pitches – i.e. 25,000 square meters – as ÖBB board member Manuela Waldner emphasized at a press conference at the site. Commissioning is planned for 2030.

Vienna’s Westbahnhof was completely renovated a few years ago – the main building and the interior of the hall. The platforms themselves were not renovated. According to Waldner, they are now also in need of renovation. The necessary work will now be used to cover the area with a hall roof and a solar system.

Protection from wind and weather

The roof will also protect passengers from wind and weather in the future, as was emphasized. But there will also be enough light for the platforms, emphasized Waldner. Transparent elements will ensure this. New additional seating options were also promised.

A PV system will be installed above it, which will generate around 3,400 megawatt hours of electricity per year. This corresponds to the annual needs of around 850 households, it was said. However, the energy generated there will not flow into the kitchens and living rooms of the city. The electricity will be used to supply the station, i.e. primarily the shops and offices located there.

Construction to begin in 2028

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2028. Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) praised the measure as a showcase project. “It’s really impressive.” The plant is being built on an area that is already sealed, she emphasized. In general, every single PV plant is a contribution to energy independence and climate protection.

Vienna’s SPÖ club leader Josef Taucher also referred to the city’s corresponding goals. Vienna wants to be climate neutral by 2040. Photovoltaics make an important contribution here. Since the start of the Vienna solar power initiative, PV output in Vienna has quadrupled, according to Taucher.