Prague reveals design plans for the Vltava Philharmonic Hall
The Danish studio Bjarke Ingels Group won the international architectural competition
The move helps the city source funding for the project while allowing residents to profit directly from the energy transition
Vienna authorities announced they will let citizens buy shares in a new photovoltaic (PV) park being constructed in the city’s Central Cemetery. The city’s so-called ‘citizen-solar power plants’ have been around for a good ten years now and were conceived as a way for the Viennese to take part in the sustainable energy transition.
At the same time, they accelerate the sustainable energy transition and put incentives for broad public support towards renewable energy projects. Furthermore, if the city could keep the pace and scale it up, it would democratise the energy market in a very unique way.
The project is quite reminiscent of what some ex-Communist countries like Slovenia and the Czech Republic did to facilitate the transition from a centrally planned economy to a free market. In the case of Czechia, the government issued vouchers to help expedite the privatization of state-owned companies, so citizens became partial owners.
The case of Vienna and the city’s push towards decarbonising the energy sector has two major similarities with the above-mentioned practice. One is that authorities want to use a large pool of small-scale investors and the other is that they want to accelerate a rapid transition. Though in this case, it is towards renewables, rather than towards a market economy.
‘Citizen-solar power plants’ are also a great way for the Viennese to take part in the energy transition when they do not have the means to set up PV systems themselves. A good example of a previous project is the solar farm in Donaustadt.
In that project, all the available solar panels, priced 475 euros apiece, were sold off in just 26 hours. This allowed the city to quickly source the financing for the project and it guaranteed citizens a yearly income from the sale of the energy.
Over 10,000 Viennese citizens have already invested in similar projects and the city has sourced over 38 million euros this way. Currently, there are 28 ‘citizen-solar power plants’ operating in Vienna and Lower Austria. They produce 20.5 megawatts of electricity, powering over 8,400 households. They also reduce CO2 emissions by 12,000 tons per year.
The project for the Central Cemetery, on the other hand, will be number 29 and will produce 1.4 megawatts, making it the third biggest in the city. It should start operating this spring and power 570 households.
The REPowerEU 200 billion-euro plan calls for a gradual reduction of Russian fuel imports
The summer ticket will be valid on local and regional trains, buses, as well as on the U-Bahn and S-Bahn
The Danish studio Bjarke Ingels Group won the international architectural competition
The city also added a new bathing area
The new Walking and Cycling Index shows that an overwhelming majority want to live in 20-minute neighbourhoods
Explore the underbelly of the city’s most iconic site in the moonlit hours
The REPowerEU 200 billion-euro plan calls for a gradual reduction of Russian fuel imports
Close engagement initiatives with the business sector and residents were key to spreading the idea across the board
The new Walking and Cycling Index shows that an overwhelming majority want to live in 20-minute neighbourhoods
The city also added a new bathing area
The installation of the sensors is part of its “Smart Museum” project
Authorities want to do away with the passive status of nature in the city
These will be spread across 11 EU countries and will serve to support the EU Missions
The European Commission has accepted to develop the idea
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