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]
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]
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]
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] |
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] |
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Solar thermal power stations |
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Photovoltaic power stations |
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