To further increase its self-sufficiency in renewable energy, ÖBB has now built the world's first traction power wind turbine in Höflein (Bruck/Leitha district) in Lower Austria.
The wind turbine has an output of around 3 MW (megawatts) and supplies energy for around 1,400 train journeys per year on a route from Vienna to Salzburg. The "blade tip height" of the wind turbine is about 200 m, and the diameter of the rotor is 112 m. This makes it longer than a football field. The total cost of the project is around 6 million euros.
ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä: "I am incredibly proud that we have commissioned the world's first wind turbine for traction power. This is a major innovative milestone for the green future of mobility and the next step in our energy strategy toward self-sufficiency and independence. As one of the largest climate protection companies in Austria, we will continue to invest in alternative forms of energy in the future. Around 1 billion euros by 2030. The fresh wind in mobility can be felt everywhere. That's why we are building wind turbines to drive us into a climate-neutral future."
The energy generated is fed directly into the railway's overhead line. On the one hand, this direct feed largely avoids the need for new electrical lines, and on the other hand, the trains are supplied directly and thus with low-loss 100 % green wind energy.
Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler: "The fight against the climate crisis is our historic task. Especially in the mobility sector, there is a great potential for CO2 savings. ÖBB is not only the backbone of public transport in Austria, but it is also a reliable partner for more climate protection. With the construction of the world's first traction current wind energy plant, ÖBB is making an important contribution to climate neutrality in 2040 and energy autonomy in Austria. The great thing about it: with the clean electricity generated by the company, an important step is being taken to increase the proportion of electricity generated by the company itself."
By feeding the generated electricity directly into the railway's grid, existing renewable energy resources are used directly where consumption occurs. The integration of the electricity into the overhead line will take place via a newly developed switching station in a transportable container design.
