Photovoltaic energy in Austria

General
Renewable energy policy in Austria exists on three levels: the Federal level, the regional level of the provinces (Bundesländer) and the local level of municipalities. Important contributions from renewable energy sources regard large hydropower for electricity, biomass for heat and power and solar thermal installations. On the Federal level the programme klima:aktiv (started 2004 by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management) aims at reducing CO₂-emission and increasing the penetration of renewable energy sources. Regarding renewables, focus is on biogas and biomass, solar thermal and heat pumps. Typical for the Austrian programmes is that they are easily accessible through the internet and through telephone hotlines. With the decision of the Green Electricity Act 2009 of 23 September 2009 in the National Council (confirmed October 8, 2009 in the Bundesrat) essential contents of the second Ökostromgesetz of 2008 entered into force. The decision of Parliament had become necessary because of concerns of the European Commission regarding the cost cap for energy intensive industry (Ökostromkostendeckelung) , which will therefore not enter into force.

The following changes can be observed:

• Instead of the Ökostromkostendeckelung a de minimis compensation scheme (Rückvergütungsregelung) has come in place: companies whose green power costs are higher than 0.5% of the net production value (Nettoproduktionswert) for the years 2008 to 2010 a total maximum of 500,000 euros may be paid (under certain conditions).
• The amount of the lump sum for the (partial) financing of the cost of green electricity will be maintained until 2012 at unchanged levels, ie, for domestic customers at the amount of 15 euros per year.
• Small-scale hydropower is promoted in future by investment subsidies instead of feed-in tariffs. In total, 75 million euros for investment grants are available.
• Feed-in tariffs for new plants will be guaranteed up to 15 years fuel-spending technologies such as biomass and biogas, or up to 13 years for all others, such as wind power and photovoltaics.
• Every year 21 million Euro will be available for further support of new renewable energy installations

Renewable energy projections according to the National Renewable Energy Action Plan for Austria
The National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) for Austria was submitted in July 2010. The target according to Annex I of Directive 2009/28/EC is 34% for the year 2020 and the projected NREAP share in that year is 34.2%.  According to the projection, the most important contribution in the year 2020 is expected from hydropower (42.1 TWh or 3621 ktoe, 39% of all renewable energy). Second important contribution is expected from biomass (renewable heating and cooling) (3607 ktoe, 39% of all renewable energy). The third largest contribution is from biomass (renewable electricity) (5.1 TWh or 443 ktoe, 5% of all renewable energy). Onshore wind power contributes with 2.6 GW (4.8 TWh) in the year 2020. For solar photovoltaic the 2020 contribution is projected to be 322 MW (306 GWh). For solar thermal the 2020 contribution is projected to be 269 ktoe. The two most important biofuels are projected to contribute 410 ktoe (biodiesel) and 80 ktoe (bioethanol / bio-ETBE) by 2020. The renewable electricity production from solid biomass amounts to 4.5 TWh (390 ktoe) and for biogas it is expected to be 0.6 TWh (50 ktoe). The consumption of renewable heat is expected to amount to 3591 ktoe for solid biomass and 16 ktoe for biogas.
Renewable electricity: photovoltaic energy (PV)
As of 1 October 2006 an Executive Agency was established, the Ökostromabwicklungstelle (OeMAG, see http://www.oem-ag.at) through which new installations producing renewable electricity will be granted subsidies. This is based on a new feed-in tariff scheme, that entered into force in January 2007. The OeMAG will be entrusted the task of verifying and accrediting the renewable installation and monitor the available budget. Other tasks for the OeMAG are power contracting and feed-in tariff payments. The budget to pay the feed-in tariffs is collected as a fee to the final consumers (Zählpunktpauschale).
Support for PV in Austria rests on two major pillars: a feed-in tariff system and an investment support by the Energy and Climate Fund (KLI.EN)

Feed-in tariffs on Federal level :

Feed-in tariffs are regulated in the Eco elctricity Act which exists since 2002 and which has been revised in 2006, 2007, 2008 and on 23 September 2009. Feed-in tariffs are adjusted annually by a decree (Ökostromverordnung). In order to obtain tariff apayments 100% of power generated need to be fed into the grid.  For the year 2009 tariffs were published on 23 February 2009 in the Ökostromverordnung 2009 (BGBl II Nr 53/2009). For the years 2010 and 2011 tariffs were published in Ökostromverordnung 2010 - ÖSVO 2010 (2 February 2010).

*FITs run for 13 years.

In 2010, 2,1 million euro were allocated for the tariff support scheme. This budget has been used up completely. For 2011 the volume of support is not yet known.

Investment support by KLI.EN (for grid connected PV systems) :

The investment support fund of KLI.EN („Förderaktion Photovoltaik 2011“) is encouraging direct consumption and is exclusively targeting  private households. The fund has a volume of 35 million euro in 2011. Start of the application procedure is 4 April 2011.There is no limit for the size of supported PV systems but support is only granted for a maximum of 5 kWp with up to 30 % of investment costs and 1.100 Euro/kWp. Building integrated systems receive up to 1.450 Euro/kWp. For the produced power no feed-in tariff must be obtained.

Future programme changes expected
No information is available on future programme changes.

The National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAPs) are all published on the Transparency Platform on Renewable Energy: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/transparency_platform/action_plan_en.htm (sourced July - December 2010)

Renewable Energy Projections as Published in the National Renewable Energy Action Plans of the European Member States, http://www.ecn.nl/nreap (sourced December 2010)

Interactive EurObserv’ER Database
http://www.eurobserv-er.org
Last update: March 2011