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Solar PV Offers Immense Benefits For Austrian Economy

Make Building Integrated PV Technology Mandatory In Country To Encourage Growth Of Solar Power In Austria, Recommends Technologie Plattform Photovoltaik

Anu Bhambhani
  • TPPV position paper brings out the potential of solar PV technology to ensure 100% of electricity of Austria can come from this resource
  • For this, the government can make it mandatory for all new buildings here to incorporate BIPV technology
  • Solar PV can be coupled with other industries as heat, mobility and even hydrogen to ensure there is all round holistic development
  • Floating solar power plants is another way to exploit the potential of this technology

Technologie Plattform Photovoltaik (TPPV), the Austrian solar PV technology association, has welcomed the government's renewable energy roadmap to procure 11 TWh by 2030 under its 100% renewable energy electricity generation plans, as stated in January. Austria has committed to becoming a climate neutral country by the year 2040.

In a position paper presented by the TPPV, the association assumes a scenario where 100% electricity from solar is possible for Austria and with supportive planned policies, the country can increase its annual solar power production from 1.5 TWh now to around 12.5 TWh in 2030.

Along with installing 1 million rooftop solar systems, this can be achieved by making building integrated PV (BIPV) mandatory in the country for all new buildings and renovating existing ones.

There is immense potential for solar PV in Austria that can be explored in the form of utilizing large open spaces, but TPPV believes more can be done in the form of bifacial solar modules, agrivoltaics, installing anti-glare solar facilities along the roadside or even green hydrogen. Floating solar power plants is another opportunity to be exploited here.

PV technology could be coupled with various sectors as well like heat or mobility. Government could also encourage the development of solar PV components in the country by supporting PV research.

The position paper (in German language) can be accessed on TPPV's website.