4. Buildings & energy

4.10 “AnergieUrban” lighthouse projects

Partners: Municipal Department 20 (MA 20) – Energy Planning, ÖGUT, TU Wien, Geological Survey of Austria (GBA), architectural studio © zeininger architekten

"AnergieUrban", study locations and potential borehole sites

Chart of "AnergieUrban" project: on the left, there is the area under review shown on a map with individual urban blocks. On the right, several blocks are shown magnified, with potential borehole sites in public space (yellow dots) and in inner courtyards (blue dots).

Fig. 26: “AnergieUrban”, study locations and potential borehole sites. Copyright: ÖGUT

Anergy networks (low-temperature networks) are an interesting future option for replacing existing gas heating systems in . In an anergy network, several houses share the available sources of heat, such as geothermal heat, groundwater or solar thermal energy. In this way, all buildings in the network can be heated and cooled without fossil fuels while cutting down on investment costs.

In Innerfavoriten, a study concerning the technical feasibility of anergy networks was conducted, starting with an exploration of where in the project area geothermal probes might be installed (see dots in the illustration above).

Moreover, the pilot project examined to what degree a symbiosis of district heating areas and neighbouring anergy network areas might boost the carbon-free overall energy balance and security of supply.

The “AnergieUrban” lighthouse projects looked at three specific construction projects to determine which statutory, organisational and socio-economic framework conditions must be created in order to facilitate optimum geothermal energy utilisation in urban spaces to further the heat transition.

In the WieNeu+ area Innerfavoriten, a starter cell for an anergy network in Alxingergasse / Van-der-Nüll-Gasse was analysed in greater detail; moreover, the framework conditions for implementation were preliminarily addressed together with the owners in this urban block.

Outcomes

While anergy networks have attained technical maturity, their more widespread installation still requires key stakeholders who are willing to advance such projects and are also able to activate other owners in the respective urban block.

One major obstacle lies in the currently inadequate framework conditions, which stipulate the obligatory installation of a central heating system; moreover, aspects of housing law (MRG and WEG) likewise need to be adapted. The tapping of geothermal heat in public space, which is necessary for deep drilling, would offer opportunities if statutory obstacles were reduced. Energy-related spatial planning and adjustments of construction law provisions constitute further prerequisites for the multi-property tapping of these potentials.

Starter cells composed of three to five buildings appear to be ideal initiators for the implementation of an anergy network. The early identification of potentials for enlarging the network is of benefit. Above all, a combination of newly constructed buildings and refurbished older structures opens up a wide range of technical solutions and, thus, renders anergy networks more attractive (e.g. low-temperature heating combined with cooling, use of annexes, etc.). In this context, the aid provisions under the de minimis Regulation constitute a something of a restriction to smaller-scale operator solutions.

For further project information, see the final report (German): Abschlussbericht.