The future of the energy supply will be decided by the investments in energy infrastructure we make today and tomorrow

Bernd Vogl

By Bernd Vogl, Head of Municipal Department 20, Energy Planning of the city of Vienna

In cities, the burning of fossil fuels accounts for more than 70% of global CO2 emissions. Therefore they play a key role in combating climate change. The complete change to renewable energies in urban energy systems demands the highest level of efficiency and innovation. The use of waste heat or ambient heat with help of heat pumps is one of the most important technologies for the energy turnaround and the switch to renewable energies in the heat supply of cities, such as Vienna. They are also an essential factor in supporting the EU’s energy and climate strategy, which will also be followed by Vienna with its Smart City strategy until 2050. The future of the energy supply 2050 will be decided by the investments in energy infrastructure we make today and tomorrow. If we want a sustainable system based on renewable energies 2050, we have to invest in renewable technologies now.

The main fields of action in Vienna are, on the one hand, side the reduction of cars with fossile combustion engines by forcing public transport, cycling and electric cars. On the other hand, the reduction of the energy demand of buildings for heating, cooling and hot water combined with the increased use of waste heat and heat from renewable sources mainly geothermal, ambient heat and solar.

#DecarbCities is a conference organised  by the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA)

Rue d’Arlon 63 – 67, B-1040 Brussels – Belgium

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