Green ray of hope for Höhnhart: New solar system secures electricity for 3,000 households

Green ray of hope for Höhnhart: New solar system secures electricity for 3,000 households

In Höhnhart, Braunau district in Upper Austria, a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony for an innovative agri-photovoltaic system took place. According to oekonews.at, this project is realized in order to produce agricultural production with the production of clean stream to combine. From February 2026, the system will perform around 7.8 megawatts, which is sufficient to supply about 3,000 households with environmentally friendly electricity and save around 1,700 tons of CO₂ annually.

The photovoltaic modules of the system are nimble. As a result, they adapt optimally to the sun's rays, which leads to an earnings plan of up to 20 percent. A central feature of the project is that the soil remains usable for agriculture and grassland, which is of great importance for local farmers. Mayor Erich Priewasser emphasizes the financial advantages for the community. This includes investments in the infrastructure and the promotion of youth projects.

Support and citizen participation

The municipality of Höhnhart supported the project from the start, whereby hardly any objections or conflicts have occurred. Markus Achleitner, the State Energy and Energy Council of Upper Austria, describes the facility as an example of a future-oriented course in the region. Oekostrom AG also plans to invest around 30 million euros in other AGRI PV projects by 2028, with the aim of bringing additional 35 megawatts online and thus increasing regional added value.

In addition, details on another large Agri-Photovoltaic system in St. Veit im Innkreis were announced. This will be the largest of its kind in Upper Austria and has an output of 7.1 megawatts. According to oekostrom.at, commissioning is expected in autumn 2025. The system will produce around 7.7 gigawatt hours of electricity annually, sufficient for over 2,500 households, and is to save around 1,400 tons of CO₂ annually. Much of the area is also preserved for agriculture and grassland.

Potential of Agri-Photovoltaic

Agri-Photovoltaic not only offers a solution for climate protection, but also a sustainable source of income for farmers. According to a study by the Fraunhofer Institute ISE.FRAUNHOFER.de, it can help you to reduce water consumption in agriculture. AGRI-PV is particularly important for the resilience of agricultural companies because it generates and secures additional sources of income.

Early citizen participation has proven to be decisive for the success of the implementation of such projects. The low electricity costs between 7 and 12 Eurocent per kWh make AGRI-PV a competitive option in the area of ​​renewable energies. Overall, it turns out that Agri-Photovoltaic is a promising concept that can promote both agriculture and the energy transition.