Service for PVA members: Draft of the Renewable Expansion Act

Dear PVA member!

After intensive months of hard work, the draft of the Renewable Energy Expansion Act was presented today by Federal Minister for Climate Protection Leonore Gewessler and State Secretary Magnus Brunner.
This is the most ambitious energy law to date and has the potential to become a milestone in Austria's energy history. The legislative package concerns 10 laws, including the entirely new Renewable Energy Expansion Act, as well as the ElWOG.

Some essential points that we have been advocating for a long time have been taken into account. However, the next few weeks must still be used to adjust important details in the draft so that the foundation for a real solar revolution is actually laid.

In a first analysis of the documents, the following information is included, as already announced at the PVA industry meeting:

  • Investment subsidy for PV systems up to 500 kW (system can be larger)
    - At least 3 applications per year
    - Ranking criteria according to funding requirements (to be specified by applicant)
    - 30 % subsidy for particularly innovative projects
    - Funding budget at least 60 million euros per year
  • Competitively determined market premium for PV systems, obligatory from 500 kW
    - At least 2 tender rounds/year
    - Tender volume of 700 MW/a
    - 20-year subsidy period
    - One-off payment of security in the course of application (repayment after construction)
  • Choice between investment subsidy and competitively determined market premium for systems from 20 kW upwards
  • Possibility of switching existing OeMAG tariff plants to the new market premium system
  • Investment grant for electricity storage, eligible capacity 50 kWh
  • No performance limits in all funding tracks
  • Eligibility of open spaces with corresponding PV dedication, with a discount on the subsidy amount of 30%.
  • Simplified grid access for systems up to 20 kW
  • Flat rates for grid connection
  • Transparency of network operators on available and booked network capacities
  • Renewable energy communities on NE 6 and7 (local area) or NE 5 to 7 (regional area).

 

The aim is for the law to come into force in 2021 - however, the quarter 1/2020 is more realistic (due to approval by the European Commission, among other things).

Details such as the exact funding guidelines, funding amounts and exact start date of the law/grants will be published in separate funding guidelines.

We have published all documents on our homepage, at www.pvaustria.at/news/erneuerbaren-ausbau-gesetz.

After a detailed analysis of the law, we will provide you with a summary of the most important points. Via a webinar, we will present the most important points from the law and try to clarify your questions. Please send us your questions in advance.

We are pleased that a draft law is finally available, but we do not see our work finished yet, because some points still need important adaptations!
Especially now we ask for your feedback to have comprehensive input for a really groundbreaking law.

 

Yours sincerely,
Vera Immitzer

PHOTOVOLTAIC AUSTRIA | The Interest Group for Photovoltaics and Solar Power Storage in Austria
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