Background

 

Climate change is becoming increasingly evident through extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, and severe storms – especially affecting residents of large cities like Vienna. To tackle these challenges, the City of Vienna has made climate protection its top priority, aiming to become climate-neutral by 2040. The Vienna Climate Guide outlines clear climate goals and over 100 measures to help achieve them. The Vienna Solar Power Initiative plays a key role in this energy transition.  

Download the Vienna Climate Guide (English Version)

The transition to renewable energy and electricity sources is a crucial success factor in this context. After all, the city’s electricity demand continues to rise - due to increased e-mobility and the use of heat pumps, for example. The challenge now is to meet this growing demand with renewable sources such as biomass, geothermal and waste heat, and especially solar power.

Powered by the Sun

 

Solar power is homemade, climate-friendly, urban-compatible, affordable, crisis-proof, and low-maintenance. Vienna has many surfaces suitable for solar installations, and new, efficient photovoltaic (PV) solutions are constantly emerging. Solar energy therefore offers enormous potential for the energy transition.

Vienna enjoys over 2,000 hours of sunshine per year. According to the Vienna Solar Potential Register, about half of the city’s rooftops are suitable for solar energy generation. The goal now is to use as many of these surfaces—roofs, facades, and sealed areas like parking lots—for energy production. That is why the City of Vienna launched the major Vienna Solar Power Initiative “Wien hat’s drauf!” in 2021.

On the Rise

 

By 2030, PV capacity is expected to reach 800 MWp – 16 times the 2020 level, and enough to supply electricity to around a quarter of Vienna’s households (approx. 230,000). The interim goal of 250 MWp by the end of 2025 was already reached in March 2025 and will be significantly exceeded by year’s end.

Expansion on city-owned land is also progressing, with the 50 MWp target for the end of 2025 already achieved in spring.

You can witness the success of the initiative “live” on our dashboard, which shows regularly updated figures on the total city-wide PV capacity and the output of PV systems on City of Vienna properties.

Tasks of the Solar Power Initiative

 

With this initiative, Vienna is taking a pioneering role nationwide. City-owned buildings and land are being rapidly equipped with solar systems, and citizens, businesses, developers, and associations are actively invited to become partners in shaping the city’s climate future.
The initiative continuously works to improve the framework for installing PV systems in Vienna. Administrative procedures are being simplified, optimised, and accelerated, and legal requirements in the Vienna Electricity Act and Building Code are being gradually adapted. Since early 2024, all PV systems (horizontal & vertical) up to 15 kWp can be installed without official notification or approval - except in areas with construction bans, protection zones, or designated green spaces.

Additionally, the PV obligation introduced in 2020 for new buildings was increased and expanded to include attic conversions and allotment garden houses in early 2024.

Better Funding, More Advice

 

As part of a PV funding campaign, new funding priorities were developed in early 2024, and the annual PV funding budget was significantly increased. At the same time, the City of Vienna expanded its consultation services in this field.
The Vienna Climate and Innovation Agency offers various free consultation services as part of the Solar Power Initiative. Energy experts guide residents step-by-step through the transition to renewable energy systems, offering advice on permits, feasibility, funding opportunities, and finding providers. Since early 2024, a daily PV funding consultation hour is available on weekdays. It can be booked online via the website of the Solar Power Initiative.

With the “1,2,3 Sonnengutschein”, the City of Vienna launched a new, free advisory service in 2025 to support the implementation of shared PV systems in multi-unit residential buildings. The three modules include an initial roof and building assessment, decision-making support during residents meetings, and implementation consulting.

Well Connected!

 

The Vienna Solar Power Initiative works closely with key stakeholders in the PV industry and representatives of Vienna’s business community. Companies that have installed or plan to install a PV system can join the Vienna Solar Partnership and are invited to regular information and networking events.

The initiative is a cross-departmental implementation programme involving all relevant city departments and municipal companies, coordinated by a programme team of around 20 members. The programme runs for ten years, from 2020 to 2030.