Austria To Install More Than 1.4 GW Of New Solar Capacity By 2022

Last year, Austria deployed more than 1,000 MW of solar energy, making it a GW-scale PV market for the first time. The country's cumulative installed PV capacity has now surpassed 4.2 GW.

Austria has managed to enter the group of countries that have installed more than 1 GW of new solar capacity in a single year.

According to the Austrian Federal Photovoltaic Association (PV Austria), the country added 1.4 GW of new PV capacity last year. A spokesperson for the association told reporters, "The final results will be published next summer."

Austria installed 740 MW of new PV systems in 2021, and 341 MW in 2020 and 247 MW in 2019. will not become a GW-sized market.

In order to promote the rapid development of the photovoltaic industry, the Austrian federal government has set up a new framework for a renewable energy expansion law (EAG), but its implementation depends to a large extent on the federal states. For example, the Lower Austrian state government has increased its expansion target to 3 GW by 2030, but reduced the area of solar power parks, which is currently already more than two hectares.

Photovoltaic zoning should be used more as a weapon against the energy crisis and high electricity prices," says Herbert Paierl, president of the Austrian Federal Photovoltaic Association. But unfortunately, the area for solar power systems is gradually decreasing, so the PV target will definitely not be achieved."

It is unclear how much of the designated area can actually be put into use due to factors such as competition for land use rights, the ongoing review of nature reserves, complex ownership structures and a lack of grid capacity.

Says Paierl: "The task for the Lower Austrian government in the future is on the one hand to closely monitor actual land use and on the other hand to quickly designate more areas that can be used for solar power."