According to new data released by Photosoltaik Austria, Austria set a new record for the installed capacity of 341MW of photovoltaic systems in 2020. Last year's result represented a 38 percent increase compared with 2019.

Overall, photovoltaic power generation covered 3.6% of the country's electricity demand last year. By the end of last year, the country's cumulative PV installed capacity had increased to 2035 MW.

Vera Immitzer, managing director of the federal trade association, called the figures "an early sign of a solar revolution." However, 341 MW is still too little compared to the Austrian government's 2030 target. She further explained: "By 2025 at the latest, we will have to install three times as many systems per year as we do today, and in the next few years, the magnitude will be five times higher." She added that Austria urgently needed a reliable framework for solar subsidies.

The planned new renewable energy law, Erneuerbaren-Ausbau-Gesetz (EAG), is expected to create the conditions for this strong development. Despite lengthy discussions, the final passage of the law is still a long way off. As a result, the Austrian Photovoltaic Association has launched a countdown on its website to urge politicians to finally take action. "Only if we achieve this growth every year from now on will we be able to achieve our goal by 2030," Immitzer said. ”

The current framework conditions were considered inadequate due to insufficient funding, the imminent expiration of other schemes and the lack of incentives for the federal states to further expand photovoltaic capacity. In February, Austrian energy agency OeMAG allocated 322 MW of photovoltaic capacity to 15,957 rooftop solar projects under the country's 2020 residential solar subsidy scheme. According to the authorities, the pool has generated an investment of approximately 332.4 million euros.

Austria supports the rooftop photovoltaic industry primarily through its incentive programme. To date, only a few ground-based photovoltaic power stations have been built throughout the country, the largest of which is an 11.5 MW facility that was connected to the grid in March.

Ningbo Raytech New Energy Materials Co., Ltd. specializes in double glass PV modules and bifacial solar panels manufacturing for over 12 years.