Solar power in Austria

Solar potential

As of the end of 2022, solar power in Austria amounted to nearly 3.8 gigawatt (GW) of cumulative photovoltaic (PV) capacity, with the energy source producing 4.2% of the nation's electricity.[1][2]

In addition to supporting PV installations through permitting simplification and cash grants, the Austrian government is targeting 100% renewable electricity generation by 2030.[3][4]

Solar roof, sports hall, Vorarlberg

In 2009, the site of Zwentendorf power station became Austria's largest solar power station with an investment of 1.2 million Euro, with the addition of 1,000 photovoltaic panels.[5] Zwentendorf was intended to be Austria's first nuclear power plant, but after a vote in 1978 prohibiting nuclear power in Austria, was never completed.[6] In September, 2011, Austria's largest solar power station, 2 MW, was under construction in the Niedere Tauern mountain range.[7]

Austria has also a large capacity of solar heating at its disposal. With more than 3,500 MWthermal the country ranks second in the EU, only behind much larger Germany.[8]

Targets

Austria aims to achieve a 100% renewable electricity production by 2030 with 1,000,000 homes having solar panels fitted by that date. 11 TWh of extra photovoltaics will be needed above 2021 levels.[9]

Photovoltaic installations

See also: Solar power in the European Union and Growth of photovoltaics


Statistics

Added Capacity since 1992 in (MWp)
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
Cumulative Capacity since 1992 in (MWp)
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
Austria 2013 - key figures
Final Electricity Consumption 56 TWh
Inhabitants 8 million
Irradiation 1,027 kWh/kW
PV Installations in 2013 263 MW
PV Cumulative Capacity in 2013 626 MW
PV Penetration 1.1%
Source: IEA-PVPS, Trends2014[10]
Photovoltaic installations in Austria since 1999
Year Added
(MWp) 		Cumulative
(MWp) 		Refs
1999 0.8 3.7 Trends2013
2000 1.2 4.9 Trends2013
2001 1.6 6.5 Trends2013
2002 3.8 10.3 Trends2013
2003 6.5 16.8 Trends2013
2004 4.3 21.1 Trends2013
2005 2.9 24.0 Trends2013
2006 1.6 25.6 Trends2013
2007 3.1 28.7 Trends2013
2008 3.7 32.4 Trends2013
2009 20.2 52.6 Trends2013
2010 42.9 95.5 Trends2013
2011 91.7 187.2 Trends2013
2012 176 362.9 Trends2013
2013 263 626 Trends2014
2014 140 766 Snapshot2014
2015 171 937 Snapshot2020
2016 159 1096 Snapshot2020
2017 131 1268 Snapshot2020
2018 187 1455 Snapshot2020
2019 247 1702 Snapshot2020
2020 341 2043 energie.gv.at
2021 740 2783 energie.gv.at
2022 1009 3792 energie.gv.at
2023 2603 6395 energie.gv.at
Source: IEA-PVPS, Trends2013,[11] Trends2014,[10] Snapshot2014[12] Snapshot2020[13] energie.gv.at[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ Anu Bhambhani (2023-06-27). "PV Austria Say Country Exceeded 1 GW PV Capacity For 1st Time, Taking Cumulative To 3.8 GW". Taiyang News. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  2. ^ "Distribution of electricity generation in Austria in 2022, by source". Statista. 2023-06-30. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  3. ^ Nikolaus J. Kurmayer (2023-01-11). "Austria commits to significant renewables boost". Euractiv. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  4. ^ Kit Gillet (2022-11-21). "Austria steps up funding to accelerate green progress". Financial Times. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  5. ^ History Archived 2012-05-08 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Austrian Nuclear Plant Becomes Solar Power Station Archived 2012-07-08 at archive.today
  7. ^ Albasolar provides 2MW for the largest solar Park in Austria
  8. ^ EurObserv'ER: Solar thermal and concentrated solar power barometer - May 2014
  9. ^ "Austrian Recovery & Resilience Plan / 1.Sustainable Construction / Climate neutral transformation - Renewable Expansion Act". 26 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Snapshot of Global PV 1992-2014" (PDF). iea-pvps.org/index.php?id=32. International Energy Agency — Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme. 30 March 2015. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015.
  11. ^ "NSR Austria 2020" (PDF). iea-pvps.org/index.php?id=32. International Energy Agency — Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme. 30 March 2015.
  12. ^ "Boom bei Photovoltaik ist ungebrochen". energie.gv.at. Bundesministeriums für Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Energie, Mobilität, Innovation und Technologie (BMK). 15 July 2024.