Austria Raising Renewable Energy Targets

• Austria has presented its Integrated Austrian Network Infrastructure Plan that plans for a renewable energy powered grid for the country in the future
• It has suggested revising the cumulative installed PV capacity targets for the country to 21 GW by 2030 and to 41 GW by 2040
• It has also recommended spreading this prospective PV capacity target to across the nation, with individual states contributing to its achievement

The Austrian government is revising its renewable energy targets under a draft Integrated Austrian Network Infrastructure Plan (ÖNIP), a 1^st for the country, that's now open for public consultation. According to the Photovoltaic Association Austria (PV Austria), the 2030 and 2040 targets are now aimed to be 21 GW and 41 GW, respectively.

Of the 13 GW PV by 2030 aimed under its EAG 2020 plan, Austria has been able to install only 18% capacity, the association added while welcoming the revised targets.

With the addition of over 1 GW PV in 2022, Austria's total installed solar energy capacity stood at almost 3.8 GW (see 2022—A Strong Solar Year For Austria). Now the association says annual additions should grow to 2.1 GW to achieve the future targets.

PV Austria says the plan not only meets the increasing demand for electricity and follows up the expansion targets for renewables, but also calculates the individual PV target requirements for all federal states. Lower Austria, for instance, can install 5.6 GW by 2030, and increase it to 11.7 GW by 2040 even though its technical potential is expected to be 77.3 GW.

"We're repeating ourselves, but with the present draft of the ÖNIPS, the smallness of the federal states must come to an end once and for all. By now, at the latest, it must have become clear to the state governments that everything must be done to get things going – in addition to pushing ahead with roof conversions, areas for the expansion of PV must also be designated in a forward-looking manner," said Herbert Paierl, Chairman of the Board of PV Austria.

The draft ÖNIP analyzes the country's current grid infrastructure and recommends improvement by factoring in increasing generation potential of renewable energies in keeping with growing energy consumption in the country. A strong grid is the need of the hour for Austria since the country wants to be 100% renewable energy powered by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality a decade later.

Leonore Gewessler, heading the Ministry of Climate Protection (BMK), explained, "The Austrian grid infrastructure plan is our map for a renewable energy future. Climate neutrality needs the energy transition. And the energy transition needs good and suitable networks. That is why we are now planning the necessary infrastructure with foresight and across all energy sources. So that it is ready when we need it."

Stakeholder comments to the draft ÖNIP will be accepted till September 1, 2023. The draft is available on the BMK's website.