Vienna Ships Now Use Shore Power

Why this is here: Ships docking at Vienna’s new shore power facilities will consume as much electricity in a single day as one Austrian household uses in an entire year.

Wien Energie activated thirteen shore power facilities in Vienna, Austria, to supply cabin ships with green electricity. The new facilities aim to replace diesel generators ships previously used for onboard power. Ships docking near the Reichsbrücke and in Freudenau harbor will connect to the grid for electricity during their stays.

An average ship consumes as much electricity in port each day as an Austrian household does in a year. Officials estimate the switch will reduce CO₂ emissions by roughly 17,350 tons annually and decrease noise levels along the Danube. About 2,700 cabin ships dock annually at the Reichsbrücke shipping center, bringing around 413,000 visitors to the city.

The project underwent a successful test run in autumn 2025. The facilities are part of Wien Holding and received funding from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility. While shore power is now available in all Austrian Danube federal states, the high volume of ship traffic means Vienna’s energy demand remains particularly substantial.