Photovoltaic boom in danger: communities block solar power expansion!

Photovoltaic boom in danger: communities block solar power expansion!

The discussion about the expansion of photovoltaics in Austria is becoming more and more intense. The balance sheet of the photovoltaic projects in Lower Austria and Styria in particular gives rise to criticism. After two years, there has been little progress in using the designated zones for solar power production. The main reasons are the lack of feed-in options and the lack of dedication by the communities. The industry association Photovoltaic Austria (PV Austria) calls for a nationwide Renewable Energy Expansion Acceleration Act (EABG) to counteract this standstill.

Herbert Paierl, CEO of PV Austria, is critical of the inability of the federal states to actively promote domestic electricity production. He calls for uniform nationwide energy planning instead of the current nine different state solutions. Paierl calls on the federal government to take responsibility and actively shape the energy transition.

Renewable energies in Germany

The situation in Germany shows that the expansion of renewable energies is making progress, but is not without challenges. The Federal Network Agency reports that the installed capacity of renewable energy systems increased by almost 20 gigawatts to almost 190 gigawatts in 2024. This increase of 12 percent compared to the previous year is primarily due to growth in the solar and wind sectors. Renewable energies contributed an impressive 254.9 terawatt hours or almost 60 percent of total generation in Germany.

Particularly noteworthy is the increase in solar capacity, which at 16.2 gigawatts in 2024 was higher than in the previous year. Two thirds of these new solar installations were implemented on roofs or buildings. The highest expansion took place in Bavaria, where 4.0 gigawatts were installed. Ten large biomethane CHPs in Hanover were also put into operation, while Germany's largest solar plant with 162 megawatts began operation in Saxony in spring 2024.

Sustainable energy future and ecological balance

The progress and challenges in the field of renewable energies are not only numerically significant, but also crucial for achieving climate protection goals. According to that Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection In 2024, around 256 million tons of greenhouse gases could be avoided through renewable energies. Nevertheless, there were declines in the use of biomass for heating purposes, while the use of heat pumps increased by 15 percent. The share of renewable energies in final energy consumption for heating and cooling is now 18.1 percent.

These developments show that the energy transition in Germany and Austria continues to face major hurdles. Even if the figures for the expansion of renewable energies are positive, there is still a need for action at both the federal and regional level in order to accelerate implementation and fully exploit the potential.