Austria's Renewable Act Draft Disappoints Industry: PV Austria Calls for More Ambitious Targets
The Austrian government has released a draft of the Renewable Expansion Acceleration Act (EABG) for review. While it introduces uniform regulations for photovoltaic (PV) plants and battery storage systems, it falls short in several areas, sparking disappointment from industry leaders like PV Austria.
PV Austria's study indicates a significant demand for battery storage systems in Austria, with projections of 5.1 gigawatts by 2030 and 8.7 gigawatts by 2040. However, the draft does not include a binding expansion plan for these systems, despite the current expansion status being only 1.1 gigawatts. The draft also lacks ambitious minimum expansion targets for photovoltaic expansion, allowing only about half of the required solar power demand to be covered by 2030.
The draft does not provide binding specifications for acceleration areas for renewable projects, which could hinder the swift progress needed to meet climate goals. PV Austria has expressed disappointment with the current draft and calls for improvements before the end of the consultation period. These include more ambitious PV minimum expansion targets, a binding battery storage expansion plan, specification of climate neutrality by 2040, and concrete specifications for acceleration areas. Notably, several Austrian provinces, including Burgenland, Upper Austria, Lower Austria, and Salzburg, have already fulfilled their photovoltaics expansion targets for this year, effectively stopping further expansion in these states.
The draft of the Renewable Expansion Acceleration Act, while introducing some uniformity in regulations, has been criticized for its lack of ambitious targets and binding plans. PV Austria has called for improvements to ensure Austria stays on track towards its climate neutrality goal by 2040. The government is urged to consider these suggestions before finalizing the act.
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