Climate goals in danger: Photovoltaic projects fail due to bureaucratic hurdles!

Climate goals in danger: Photovoltaic projects fail due to bureaucratic hurdles!

Niederösterreich, Österreich - The Federal Association of Photovoltaic Austria (PV Austria) released a current PV area check on June 8, 2025, which presents alarming results for the implementation of photovoltaic projects in Austria. A drastic problem is particularly evident in the federal states of Lower Austria and Styria: the designated zones for PV projects are hardly usable. After two years, only six photovoltaic systems were realized in 36 priority zones in Styria, while in Lower Austria only eight of 116 priority zones were actually used. This situation is all the more worrying, since some federal states do not even have PV priority zones.

Herbert Paierl, CEO of PV Austria, expressed sharp criticism of the lack of commitment of the federal states and emphasized that roof systems alone will not be sufficient to achieve the desired climate neutrality and an affordable energy supply. The “implementation radar” of the umbrellable energy Austria umbrella organization shows similar difficulties in compliance with EU requirements. The Red-III directive requires a tightening of the approval procedures and the designation of acceleration areas, but the federal states act inconsistently and deliberately, which could potentially lead to infringement procedures.

claims for a faster expansion

Paierl calls for a nationwide renewable expansion acceleration law (EABG) and binding energy space planning at the national level to ensure that the projects progress. These measures are necessary to promote the important expansion of renewable energies, especially since Germany is also faced with comparable challenges.

In the German Bundestag, an application from the AfD parliamentary group for energy supply was rejected on October 10, 2024, which, among other things, called for the coal phase-out and support of the continued operation of existing coal-fired power plants. The increasing political debate about energy supply is reflected in the different approaches to the use of renewable energies. The SPD, CDU/CSU, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, FDP and the left were found under the negative factions. Critics, like the Green MP Bernhard Herrmann, accused the AfD of representing a backward-looking energy policy.

renewable energies in Germany

According to the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, the sector of renewable energies in Germany increases employment to the highest level since 2011, with over 406,000 employees in this area. Investments in renewable energies amounted to 32 billion euros in 2024, which is a slight decline compared to the previous year. Despite the challenges, the proportion of renewable energies in the final energy consumption for heat and cold remains stable at 18.1% and makes a significant contribution to avoiding greenhouse gas emissions.

The combination of political decisions and the need for an efficient implementation of PV projects presents both Austria and Germany with great challenges on the way to climate neutrality. A quick action is required to achieve the desired climate goals and to strengthen renewable energies as a load -bearing pillar of energy supply. PV Austria and other organizations have the responsibility to promote this process and to stand up for comprehensive planning and implementation.

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