Field Trip On Sustainable Energy To Bruck an der Leitha
05 October, 2026
A group of eight students and a lecturer from UAS Technikum Wien went on a field trip to Bruck an der Leitha to learn about sustainable energy. The three-hour guided tour led by Hannes Raser included visits to a biogas plant, a solar farm, and a wind turbine. This report was written by Emilie, a student (12 years old) who accompanied the group on the field trip.
On September 19, 2026, a group of eight students and a lecturer from the UAS Technikum Wien met in front of the university building and were then taken by bus to the Energy Park in Bruck an der Leitha. There, they were greeted at the biogas plant by Hannes Raser, who, in addition to running an organic farm, played a key role in the construction of the Energy Park. “A biogas plant is like a giant concrete cow,” said Hannes Raser. In a biogas plant, organic materials—such as food scraps—are broken down with the help of bacteria, producing methane that can be used to generate heat.
After touring a technical room, the group noticed that one student was missing. She was subsequently freed from the room in question, and the field trip was able to continue without further issues; the group was then taken to the 5.5-hectare solar field. “There is always a twelve-meter gap between the rows of solar panels, which can be used for agricultural purposes. For example, you can grow soybeans there,” Hannes Raser explained to the small group. These solar panels track the sun’s movement, generating electricity for the neighboring biogas plant and approximately 1,200 households in the region.
After a short break, the students, the lecturer, and Hannes Raser set out to climb the 320 steps to the top of a wind turbine. They took a short break at a viewing platform to admire the landscape and the fields. Afterward, they climbed ladders to reach the heart of the gigantic power generator—the generator itself. There, a hatch was opened, and everyone in the group was able to enjoy the view a second time from the highest point. Even in the slightest breeze, the wind turbine with its three blades “trullert”—that is, it rotates slowly—to maintain a constant, even load on the turbine’s bearings. At wind speeds of 50 km/h or higher, enough electricity can be generated to cover the wind turbine’s own energy needs and feed power into the grid.
After leaving the wind turbine behind—this time without forgetting anyone inside—the team headed back to Vienna to the university building.
Author: Emilie, student, 12 years old
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Master’s program in Environmental Management & Ecotoxicology
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