Vienna cuts ties with gas: City leads renewable energy shift

Vienna, the capital of Austria, is taking decisive steps to eliminate the use of natural gas. The main reasons for this decision are the increasing costs of the resource and the sanctions imposed on Russia, Austria's main gas supplier. The city is actively investing in renewable energy sources (RES) in response to these challenges.

According to the energy provider Wiener Netze, an increasing number of homeowners in Vienna are choosing to replace gas with renewable energy sources. This change reduces the demand for gas and allows for the shutdown of approximately 6 to 9 miles of gas pipelines each year.

The symbolic first mile under the Prater Bridge was dismantled last summer. The operator estimates that about 2,500 miles of the gas pipeline network will be dismantled by 2040.

The trend of moving away from gas in Vienna and across Austria seems irreversible. This is influenced by the development of district heating and system heat networks and government projects encouraging the abandonment of gas.

The Ministry of Climate Protection reports that since the launch of the "Say Goodbye to Oil and Gas" program on January 1, 2023, over 73,800 funding applications have been submitted, with 2,865 from Vienna.

Vienna is focusing on a future based on renewable energy sources in response to the global challenges related to climate protection and the rising costs of traditional energy resources. This approach supports sustainable development and increases the city's energy independence.