Vienna is a popular travel destination and, thanks to the Danube, an important hub for European shipping. However, ship traffic contributes to CO2 emissions within the city. River cruise vessels moored in the port currently cause emissions because they generate electricity on board using diesel generators. These emissions can be avoided by supplying vessels with green electricity from shore. This is why Wien Energie is bringing green power to the Blue Danube by establishing a shore power infrastructure.
The construction of a shore power infrastructure benefits both the people of Vienna and the climate: emissions from diesel generators will become a thing of the past, while residents and passers-by will benefit from improved air quality and a significant reduction in noise levels.
“We are pursuing many paths to make Vienna climate-neutral – on land as well as on water. Thanks to the shore power infrastructure, ships can use clean, climate-friendly electricity when they berth in Vienna. This means less noise, fewer exhaust fumes and a more pleasant atmosphere along the Danube – for local residents, visitors and the city as a whole,” says Ulli Sima, City Councillor for Innovation, Urban Planning and Mobility.
Ships require electricity not only during their journeys, but also while in port to operate on-board systems and air conditioning. As a rule, this electricity is generated using diesel-powered engines, resulting in high CO2 emissions and noise. To improve the urban climate, Wien Energie is constructing a total of six transformer stations that will be able to supply up to 50 berthed ships simultaneously. Trial operations will begin as early as autumn 2025.
“With the new shore power infrastructure, we are clearly demonstrating how climate protection, quality of life and modern energy solutions can go hand in hand. Instead of diesel generators, quiet, efficient and environmentally friendly green electricity will be used in Vienna in the future. This is another important contribution to a liveable and climate-friendly city,” explains Karl Gruber, Managing Director of Wien Energie.
River cruise vessels on the Austrian Danube already benefit from shore power infrastructure in locations such as Linz, Melk and Krems. By equipping the Vienna Shipping Center and the Port of Freudenau, the expansion of shore power infrastructure at major mooring sites in Austria’s Danube federal states will be completed.
“Numerous international guests arrive in Vienna via the Danube. Making this route more sustainable requires the cooperation of multiple stakeholders. With the construction of the shore power infrastructure, sustainable electricity supply directly at the port will be ensured in the future. This is a decisive step that we are taking together with the City of Vienna, Wien Energie and Donauraum Wien,” adds Kurt Gollowitzer, Managing Director of Wien Holding.
Due to the large number of ships and long berthing times, the energy demand for ships in Vienna is higher than at any other location along the Austrian Danube.
“At Donauraum Wien, we welcome more than 2,500 river cruise vessels and a total of 390,000 visitors each year around Vienna’s Reichsbrücke. Our Shipping Center is an important hub for guests from all over the world arriving in Vienna by water. With the construction of the shore power infrastructure, we are firmly on course towards more climate-friendly passenger shipping on the Danube in Vienna. At our existing moorings, river cruise vessels will be able to access green electricity easily and quickly in the future, thereby making a significant contribution to environmental protection by eliminating the use of diesel generators,” say Ilse Stockinger and Christoph Caspar, Managing Directors of Donauraum Wien.
The project was co-financed by the EU funding programme Connecting Europe Facility Transport.
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