To achieve the climate goals, a significant expansion of renewable energy is required. The utility company Oekostrom AG sees great opportunities beyond the highways. If photovoltaic modules were installed on approximately one eighth of the highways on the right and left, this would provide approximately one million households with electricity. Politicians are being called on to facilitate access for such projects.
To reduce dependence on fossil energy forms and CO₂ emissions, the expansion of renewable energy sources such as wind turbines or solar photovoltaics (PV) is necessary. Everyone pretty much agrees on that. But to achieve the ambitious goals of 100 percent green energy in Austria by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2040, enormous efforts are required.
The supplier Oekostrom AG therefore wants to promote the expansion of PV systems. Wind turbines will virtually no longer be needed by 2030, says board member Hildegard Aichberger, because such projects take an average of eight years between planning and delivery. With solar photovoltaics, things would happen much faster.
86 percent say yes to PV systems along highways
However, this does require the necessary space, which is often rejected by the population under the motto ‘Not in my garden’. However, according to a recent survey, 86 percent of Austrians agree with PV systems along highways. This is where we need to start and change the preconditions, says Aichberger.
Take Germany as a role model
In concrete terms, Oekostrom AG wants PV systems to be built next to highways without complicated approval procedures. This has been possible for a long time in Germany. “If only twelve percent of the total 1,750 kilometers of highway in Austria were equipped with PV modules on the right and left, approximately one million households would be supplied with electricity,” calculates Oekostrom board member Ulrich Streibl.
But this requires the right preconditions. It is incredibly complicated, especially on highways – also because different rules apply in each federal state. Streibl: “Let’s create a national PV plan. Germany shows how it works.” There are so-called ‘privileged areas’ 200 meters to the right and left of the highway and are therefore easier to use as PV areas.
Asfinag would welcome simpler procedures
The highway operator Asfinag emphasizes that any simplification and acceleration of approval processes is welcome. But care must be taken to ensure that such projects do not endanger road safety. Asfinag, which has been building its own PV systems for years, plans to become energy self-sufficient (in terms of balance sheet) by 2030 through the production of 100 megawatt peak (MWp) from renewable energy generation systems.
There is a huge need to expand photovoltaic solar energy in Austria
Furthermore, to achieve the recently set goals of 21 terawatt hours (TWh) per year from PV systems, rapid implementation is required. Current performance in Austria is only 18 percent of what we aim for in this area. “Depending on the federal state, capacities need to be expanded five to fifteen times,” Streibl explains.
This does not even take into account the sharp increase in demand for electricity in the future. Currently this amounts to approximately 65 TWh per year. If all cars were to run on electricity and the rooms were also heated electrically, at least 100 TWh would be added annually, according to the two energy experts.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
