- Strengthening Vienna’s grid infrastructure for the challenges of the energy transformation
- Future-proof power supply for more than two million customers
- EQOS Energie was awarded the contract with a volume of about EUR 8 million
Vienna wants to be climate-neutral by 2040. In order to achieve this goal, the city’s climate roadmap envisions a massive increase in the integration of renewable energies in the spirit of the energy transformation. This, in turn, requires a capacity expansion of the grid and storage infrastructure. EQOS Energie supports the sustainable reorientation of the energy supply by comprehensively upgrading the substation in Aspern.
Otto Reinberger, Head of the Substations/High Voltage Austria profit center of the Energy Technology business unit at EQOS Energie: “Due to the increased challenges resulting from the energy transformation as well as the urban expansion in the greater area of this substation, the Aspern region requires a future-proof and stable power supply network. We are pleased that we can contribute to this project as an experienced green enabler.” On behalf of Wiener Netze, EQOS Energie will implement a new 20-kV switchgear with 28 control panels including the building and ancillary facilities as well as the preparation of an additional 110-/20-kV transformer. Based on a new double busbar design, the new air-insulated switchgear will be able to provide nominal power of more than 100 megavolt amperes for the Viennese distribution system.
Reliable expertise as a formula for success
In a multi-stage tender procedure, EQOS Energie was once again able to leverage its quality leadership in the expansion and modernisation of energy infrastructure and secure this commission worth around EUR 8 million. Uwe Trampnau, who is responsible for the Energy Technology business unit on the EQOS Energie management board: “Diligent calculation with precise consideration of the project process, a detailed execution and scheduling concept, and extensive experience from reference projects were the main factors for success.”
The specialists of the EQOS Energie team completed the primary technical execution planning in accordance with the building concept coordinated with the customer. The initial construction work for the mesh earthing system and the switchgear building is already being implemented. The secondary technical planning for the construction of the switchgear and the ancillary facilities such as protection, control and communications technology as well as auxiliary power is currently being developed.
A grid that is fit for the challenges ahead
The turnkey handover of the extensively modernised Aspern substation to Wiener Netze, Austria’s largest combined grid operator with over two million customers and an electricity grid of 20,800 kilometres in length, is scheduled for spring 2026. At that point, the facility will contribute to achieving the climate targets of the city of Vienna. Ultimately, in addition to the challenges of the energy transformation there will be those posed by the urban expansion in the greater area of the substation: The so-called “Seestadt Aspern”, named for the manmade Lake Aspern and one of the largest urban development projects in Europe, is being built there to provide residential space for more than 25,000 people.
Photo: Stadt Wien/David Bohmann