From around the world: Vienna stadium to generate electricity for a thousand households

The Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna has been transformed into one of the largest solar power plants in the Austrian capital. The installation of photovoltaic panels on its listed roof was completed in record time and is part of the city's ambitious solar strategy.

Green energy thanks to the roof of Austria's largest stadium
More than 9,000 new solar panels on the listed roof of Austria's largest stadium are ready to generate clean energy. The photovoltaic system has an annual output of 3,880 MWh, which corresponds to the consumption of approximately 1,100 households. The stadium will even produce more energy than it consumes.

The construction of one of the largest solar power plants in Vienna took place in an exceptionally short time. Due to an extraordinary international match between Austria and Serbia, the city had to speed up the entire project compared to the original schedule. Planning was made easier by a digital 3D visualization of the stadium, which allowed for the precise layout of the individual components. Within a few weeks, the assembly team delivered 9,300 solar panels, 80,000 trapezoidal rails, and more than 5,000 optimizers to the site.

Technical challenge
The project required maximum precision. Due to the elliptical shape of the roof, each trapezoidal sheet had its own specific dimensions. In addition, due to the low load-bearing capacity of the listed roof, it was not possible to transport the material to the roof in the usual way. The panels were lifted to a height of over 20 meters by scissor lifts and then moved to their designated location by hand. The installation team also had to contend with difficult weather conditions.

In addition to the photovoltaic system, geothermal energy also plays a key role in the plans to build a zero-emission stadium. Underneath the modernized training grounds are 270 boreholes 150 meters deep and ground collectors with a volume of 25,000 m³. The system will be supplemented by a network of heat pumps and storage units connected to the neighboring swimming pool, which will allow for the efficient use of excess energy. The city expects all work to be completed this year.

The installation is part of Vienna's ambitious solar strategy, which has already exceeded its original targets. Over the past five years, the city has more than quintupled its solar energy production and reached its planned target of 250 MWp ahead of schedule. The current capacity could supply around 72,000 households with clean electricity. This amount of energy would also enable the Vienna subway to circle the Earth more than 600 times without any impact on the climate.