The demand for district heating is increasing: oil operation in heating systems protects gas reserves
In order to guarantee the supply of electricity, gas and heat to around 2 million customers and tens of thousands of businesses in the city even in the event of a gas bottleneck, Wien Energie has taken numerous precautions in recent months. After extremely mild October and the first weeks of November, the demand for district heating in Vienna is now on the rise in mid-November. In order to conserve gas reserves, Wien Energie has been using extra light heating oil as a resource in its heating systems since this weekend.
Michael Strebl, CEO of Wien Energie: “The secure supply of energy and heat to our customers is our top priority. During the summer, we filled our gas storage capacity to over 90% and are therefore confident going into the winter. However, the top priority is to save gas wherever possible, also in view of next year. That is why we are now proactively using our heating systems in oil operation as well.”
Oil management as a crisis measure: climate-neutral district heating by 2040
The thermal power plants of Spittelau, Arsenal, Inzersdorf and Leopoldau are normally gas-fired to cover peaks, for example on particularly cold days or when the cogeneration plants are not in operation. In this heating season, the systems will be used regularly on an hourly or daily basis in oil mode. Wien Energie has already stored almost 20,000 tonnes of extra light heating oil and concluded further supply contracts. All heating plants together have a maximum output of around 1,250 megawatts and can thus ensure Vienna’s heat supply even in the event of a gas bottleneck together with waste incineration, biomass and industrial waste heat.
“The oil operation is an urgently needed measure to secure supply in this crisis winter. Regarding our way out of gas and for more climate protection in Vienna, we are working full steam ahead on environmentally friendly alternatives climate change to oil and natural gas. By 2040 we want to produce district heating in Vienna exclusively in a climate-neutral manner.”, according to Strebl. As early as 2023, Wien Energie will put a large heat pump into operation at the ebswien wastewater treatment plant, which can supply the equivalent of 56,000 Viennese households. From 2026, the first deep geothermal system at Aspern will also produce renewable heat. Plans for this were unveiled last week.
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