Austria installed 2.6 GW of new solar capacity in 2023, nearly tripling its annual additions and bolstering employment in the sector. With this increase, Austria's cumulative installed solar PV capacity reached 6,395 MW by the end of 2023, according to official figures from the Federal Ministry for Climate Action.
Last year, Austria added approximately 134,000 new PV systems, totaling 2.6 GW in capacity. This surge nearly tripled the number of new installations, driving significant growth in the planning and construction sector, which saw revenue rise to €4.3 billion ($4.6 billion). The added value reached €2.1 billion. According to PV Austria, employment in the sector doubled, creating nearly 13,000 full-time positions.
By the end of 2023, Austria had installed approximately 390,000 PV systems, totaling 6.4 GW in capacity, which now generates around 12% of the country's electricity demand. Despite this achievement, PV Austria urges caution in its forecasts for expansion this year, emphasizing the need for renewed efforts to maintain steady growth. The market has normalized and is expected to stabilize at a long-term sustainable level. "New impetus for continuous PV expansion is urgently needed," stated PV Austria.
"The overall economic situation is currently somewhat tense," says Vera Immitzer, managing director of PV Austria. "This is also evident in the greentech sector, but we remain confident." The association emphasizes the need for Austria to accelerate its PV expansion. "Despite significant additions over the past two years, we've only installed 30% of the 21 GWp PV capacity required by 2030 to achieve a '100% renewable electricity supply' in Austria," it states.
The government has set a target of reaching 41 GW of solar capacity by 2040. PV Austria suggests that implementing standardized and streamlined approval processes, along with rapid grid expansion and the passage of the Electricity Industry Act (ElWG), could significantly accelerate the growth of photovoltaics in Austria.