Austria's Solar Energy Sector Soars with Record Photovoltaic Expansion in 2023

Recently, the Austrian Ministry for Climate Protection unveiled the annual market statistics for cutting-edge energy technologies. The renewable energy sector, particularly photovoltaic energy (PV), saw a significant uptick in 2023. Over the course of the year, the solar industry constructed over 130,000 new PV facilities. These installations, possessing a total power output exceeding 2.6 gigawatts (GW), match nearly the combined potency of Austria's five largest storage power plants, collectively totaling 2.7 GW.

Comparatively, the photovoltaic increase was only around 1 GW in 2022. The solar industry's impressive performance in the past year has placed Austria on track in the photovoltaic expansion plan. Despite the success, the Federal Photovoltaic Austria warns against complacency.

According to Federal Photovoltaic Austria's Managing Director, Vera Immitzer, the anticipations for the current year are more reserved. Following the massive demand in 2023, the market seems to be stabilizing and hopefully will maintain a long-term balance. She comments that the general economic situation might be strained at the moment, and its effects are visible in the Green-Tech industry too, but they remain optimistic.

Revitalizing the PV Expansion Requires Accelerated Efforts

For the country to completely transition away from coal, oil, and natural gas, Immitzer stresses that a comprehensive collective effort is imminent. The government's prompt implementation of measures such as improving economic conditions for businesses, accelerating PV expansion through standardized and swift approval processes, quick network expansion, and the resolution of the Electricity Economy Act (ElWG) is crucial for a successful continuation of the PV success story into 2024.

Despite the remarkable achievements in the past two years, Austria has only installed 30% of the necessary photovoltaic power to achieve 100% renewable power supply by 2030 (21 GW).

An Economic Boost Driven by the Burgeoning Photovoltaic Industry

The photovoltaic industry's impressive performance in 2023 demonstrates that the solar power sector is a significant economic propellant. The industry saw an increase in overall revenue in the planning and establishment sector with a surge to 4.3 billion Euros. Local value creation tripled to about 2.1 billion Euros, while the industry doubled its employment opportunities, hitting a new record level. Close to 13,000 individuals were fully employed within the photovoltaic sector last year.

2023 Photovoltaic Expansion in Austria- Facts and Figures

For more details on the advancements in photovoltaic technology and its  impact on energy storage solutions, visit Ace Battery.