420,000 roofs already have PV systems and in terms of population we are number one in Europe when it comes to expansion. A new plan plus financing should increase the pace even further.
According to the government plan, one million roofs must be equipped with photovoltaic panels by 2030. At the moment, “420,000 roofs are already equipped with solar power plants, so our expansion is even ahead of plan,” beams Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens). In the previous year alone, 2.6 times as much new solar capacity was built than in 2022, making Austria the EU’s growth leader. Together with wind and hydropower, our entire electricity needs could be met from renewable sources by May.
Here you can see how the annual installed capacity has developed.
However, by 2030, PV generation must increase significantly again, from seven to eleven terawatt hours. To achieve this, there is a new integrated plan. The states should create better framework conditions for building regulations, spatial planning, etc. and investors also need long-term foundations. It is also crucial that a new energy system also takes into account heating, e-mobility, networks and storage. And to maintain the high level of acceptance of the population for additional solar areas, an information campaign will be launched.
Storage for personal use is important
The fact that some private PV systems currently do not have access to the electricity grid because the state suppliers do not need the electricity is an exception, Gewessler assures. However, it would often make sense to plan the sliding roof only for your own needs and not to count on feeding surpluses back into the electricity grid, adds energy expert Hubert Fechner. Storage is also important so that you can meet your own needs at night, for example for a bedside table. B. for the electric car.
To strengthen the domestic and European solar energy industry, new financing will be available from the autumn for large systems with a capacity of 35 kWp or more. The ‘Made in Europe’ bonus amounts to a maximum of 20 percent of the price.
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.
