Vienna • Phasing out fossil fuels in heating to decarbonise buildings
Phasing-out natural gas in buildings and district heating is the cornerstone of the city’s strategy to decarbonise the built environment. Development of geothermal energy and heat pumps will reduce the dependency on Russian gas from 80% to 0%, and local green energy production is the way to achieve security of supply.
The largest city in Austria, and fifth largest in the European Union, Vienna is working to be climate-neutrality from 2040 on, making use of its low per capita energy consumption compared to other provinces in Austria, and despite a growing population. A Green New Deal for the City is being put together, looking at system integration for a global decarbonisation of Vienna and aiming at redirecting 2 to 3% of its GDP to this objective. Phasing-out natural gas in buildings and district heating is the cornerstone of the city’s strategy to decarbonise the built environment. Development of geothermal energy and heat pumps will reduce the dependency on Russian gas from 80% to 0%, and local green energy production is the way to achieve security of supply.