Vienna Insurance Group (VIG), the leading insurance group in Central and Eastern Europe, has partnered with Wien Energie to establish the country’s first Austria-wide energy community.
The VIG Energy Community aims to generate renewable electricity for more than half of all VIG sites across Austria, including those that do not directly produce energy.
With an annual green energy production capacity of approximately three gigawatt hours from solar and wind power, the VIG Energy Community stands out as one of the most powerful energy communities in Austria.
Wien Energie, a reliable partner in the venture, is contributing a wind turbine from the Unterlaa wind farm and a photovoltaic system in Simmering to support VIG’s vision of promoting sustainable energy practices.
Michael Strebl, CEO of Wien Energie, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “We are happy to support Vienna Insurance Group’s vision to establish a national energy community and thus make a significant contribution to the energy transition. Combining wind and solar power is the ideal solution, as the company needs the most energy during the day, and the electricity generated is therefore used directly.”
The VIG Energy Community comprises six photovoltaic systems and four wind farms, with plans for expansion in the coming years.
The initiative is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by around 1,300 tonnes annually, contributing to environmental sustainability.
Wien Energie provides comprehensive support services, from initial advice and energy-related design to ongoing administration, including contract management and transparent billing.
Gerhard Lahner, Chief Operating Officer at VIG, highlighted the significance of the energy community, stating, “The energy community enables us to significantly increase the security of supply at VIG sites. In the future, the plan is to supply green electricity to our third-party real estate portfolio in addition to the sites we use ourselves.”
Under the Renewable Energy Expansion Act, energy communities can now be established throughout Austria, bringing together communities, public authorities, companies, and private households to jointly produce and share renewable energy.
This not only supports the expansion of renewable energy and reduces CO2 emissions but also leads to financial savings depending on the model.
