Barbara Wimmer
Austria has 2022 experienced a veritable solar boom. Last year, for the first time, the newly installed photovoltaic systems Gigawattmarke cracked. But where are we at? Solar expansion in Austria actually? The futurezone has at Hubert Fechnerchairman of the Austrian technology platform photovoltaics.
“By the end of 2022, we will have photovoltaic systems with a volume of approx 3,8 Gigawatt (GW) installed in Austria. But we probably need it 50 GW or more in order to achieve the climate protection goals,” says Fechner about the futurezone. “We are not even at a tenth of the expansion that is necessary for this. That means: We need photovoltaics wherever possible,” says Fechner.
Systems on buildings are only a small part
But what do you mean by “everywhere”? When it comes to photovoltaic installations, most people think of fixings buildings, roofs and facades. That is a good thing. “No more buildings should be built without a PV system integrated into the roof. Facades and other outer shells of buildings should also be used. In the meantime, a PV system even pays off economically on flat north-facing roofs because electricity prices have risen,” explains Fechner. But even if the building’s potential for photovoltaics were fully exploited, the maximum would be approx 15 to 30 percent achieve the necessary expansion.
Agri-PV systems for agriculture
“We will also need open spaces for photovoltaic systems. On the one hand I’m thinking about it Agri-PV systems, on the other hand to the grassland,” says Fechner. Agri-PV means that an agricultural area is used for the production of food and solar power at the same time. Such systems are currently receiving special funding from the Ministry of Climate. In Bruck an der Leitha, an agri-PV system was built last year, which is based on approx 3 MW performance is coming.
Also in Pöchlarn, Guntramsdorf and Pellendorf there are already plants where agriculture and solar power are combined. Mounting the PV modules vertically can result in numerous advantages. Vertical, bifacial modules, i.e. modules that are active on both sides, in an east-west orientation also make a lot of sense. These produce a lot of electricity, especially in the morning and in the evening.
Solar cells ensure biodiversity
Normal ground-mounted PV systems are best suited to green areas that are not or no longer used for agriculture. Fechner does not see these areas as lost either. “These can go to biodiversity zones because they do not have to be entered except for annual mowing to avoid shading. This creates an ideal place for plant growth and as a retreat for small animals and insects, provided the distances between the modules are large enough,” says Fechner. “We are therefore not losing these areas, but we are turning them into biologically more valuable areas.”
But how big are we talking about here? “If we stick to the climate neutrality scenario, we need about 400 to 450 square kilometers area‘ says Fechner. For comparison: Lake Neusiedl is about 315 square kilometers large. For some, this may seem like a lot. But Fechner explains how much agricultural and forestry land has been set aside in the past 15 years: around 5800 square kilometers. “That’s fifteen times as much. To say that we don’t have these areas in Austria is therefore not enough.”
Potential also in the mountains
There is also great potential for PV systems in the mountains in Austria, because much better results can be achieved at higher altitudes above the fog line, especially in winter. “It makes sense above all where there are already power plants or in places where tourism facilities already exist. Here you can synergy effects use,” explains Fechner.
Also the Motorway roofing with PV systems, or solar road coverings will be ways that are feasible. “But we need more applied research for the new uses,” says Fechner. By this he also means, for example, PV roof tiles, windows and facades, which can become the skin of a building, or PV road coverings.
“We have slept through the last 30 years”
The solar expert is certain that in the future we will see energy generation much more in the landscape than was previously the case and that we will need all of these types of use of PV systems in order to be able to achieve the climate goals for the expansion of renewable energies. “We have the overslept for the last 30 years, now we have to move quickly to a circular economy in the energy sector. To do this, we use nature’s raw materials: sun, wind, water and bioenergy.”
This article is part 1 of a three-part series on the topic of photovoltaics: Where do we stand with the expansion in Austria? Where does photovoltaics make sense? Tomorrow you will read Part 2: “Photovoltaics in alpine regions and ski areas”.
