Wien Energie uses waste heat from incineration plants to produce district cooling, a space-saving, environmentally friendly alternative to conventional cooling.
As heat is an inevitable byproduct of waste incineration and electricity production, waste heat has traditionally been used for district heating. However, in the warmer months when heating is no longer needed, Wien Energie uses waste heat to provide district cooling. By using waste heat instead of electricity to power absorption refrigeration machines, Wien Energie is able to provide cooling either through a connected district cooling network, or through a district cooling centre installed directly in a customer’s building. Compared to conventional air-conditioning units, district cooling uses 4 to 10 times less primary energy.
This solution was featured in Keeping it Cool market of the 2018 Global Opportunity Report, and was selected based on the criteria of that report.
How the Global Goals are addressed
Affordable and Clean Energy
Utilising a byproduct of incineration for cooling cuts electricity consumption and guarantees a future-proof supply of energy.
Climate Action
These innovative cooling systems reduce environmental damage due to reduce electricity and harmful refrigerants usage.
Wien Energie
Wien Energie supplies electricity, natural gas and heating to around two million people, 230,000 businesses and industrial facilities, as well as 4,500 farms in the Greater Vienna metropolitan area. Activities also include waste recycling, providing energy-related advice and services, facility management, telecommunications. Moreover, Wien Energie is active in a number of projects at European level.
Global Goals addressed