Almost every day we hear the prayer wheel-like call to install photovoltaic systems to deal with the energy crisis. However, if you want state funding, the path can be very rocky, as an example from Tyrol shows.
Moving from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. The message is getting through to people, helped by skyrocketing energy prices. Faith in it is beginning to wane, at least for a Tyrolean. In the spring, he had a brand new photovoltaic (PV) installation installed on the roof of his new building, but he is still unable to feed electricity back into the grid. Currently, more than 1000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) is wasted every month in nowhere.
Chance of a scholarship only four times a year
Realizing the highest possible degree of self-sufficiency on electricity with the PV installation of ten kW/peak and a storage system, that was the client’s wish. Of course with the support of state subsidies, after all about a quarter of the investment costs. In order to obtain this, OeMAG, the processing agency for green electricity, has set up so-called financing calls. Four times a year, the applicant – often done by the installation company – has the option of drawing a “ticket” online for the subsidy at a specific time.
Many speak of a lottery because you have to act quickly. “During the April meeting, the whole thing was over after eight minutes,” says Andreas Strasser of an electricity company in Mils, describing his experiences, “there was only 20 million euros in the financing pot”. The problem with this: you only get the information after a few weeks if you are one of the lucky “winners”.
“The system is sick”
But you should at least start building now. However, those who cannot afford a facility without a subsidy cannot run the risk of rejection and must wait and see. Our home builder also had to wait for the next “call” on June 21. He had the system installed anyway. “As far as I know, EUR 60 million was included in June,” says Strasser, “although it has been brought forward from the October budget. Then it will certainly be increased again, but we only get all the information very late. The system is faltering, the financiers are overburdened.” As of June, 30 applications are still open.
Delivery point can take up to twelve weeks
Bruno Oberhuber, head of Energie Tirol, is also not afraid of criticism: “The federal subsidy system is unsatisfactory and opaque.” a delivery number from an energy supplier. That could take up to 12 weeks.” The expert speaks of a tenfold increase in the questions about PV systems in his company. The procedure must be simpler, more transparent and faster, the period until acceptance or rejection is far too long.
350 euros lost in July
Our home builder recently received approval – first application in April. In the meantime, however, he has lost a lot of money due to the lack of feed-in options this sunny summer, because Tiwag’s compensation for the fed-in energy is more lucrative than ever at 30.73 cents per kWh. In July that would have been no less than 350 euros. The absurdity is probably that the lost feed-in rate will add up to about the amount of the federal subsidy, because his PV regulator thinks there will be no feed-back this year.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
