55,000 photovoltaic panels arranged over an area of 24 hectares, producing 30 million kilowatt/hours of solar power annually (which corresponds to the electricity consumption of about 7,000 households) – such are the impressive figures currently being chalked up by Vienna International Airport.
Here you will find Austria’s largest photovoltaic array, which has recently come onstream. Calculated over the year, it will be able to provide solar energy to power about a third of the airport’s operations, and on sunny days this will even be 100%.
Vienna International Airport has been operating seven photovoltaic systems since 2016, and further expansion is anticipated this year to increase the current energy performance of approximately 24 Megawatts at peak and to produce more electricity, even on less sunny days.
Although aviation causes only 2.7% of global CO2 emissions, Vienna International Airport is taking responsibility for climate change and management reports that the company has been consistently reducing its CO2 output through the use of photovoltaic systems, eMobility and new technologies to improve energy efficiency. We learn that the entire industry has measures such as more modern airplanes using less aviation fuel, more efficient flight routing, and the development and use of CO2-neutral propellants right at the top of their to-do-lists.
Vienna International Airport is right on track: the company is looking to operate CO2-neutrally from 2023.
