Austria will reward the use of European PV components

Austria Launches New Rooftop Solar Subsidy Program Worth €60 Million
Austria has launched a new subsidy program for rooftop photovoltaic (PV) installations, totaling €60 million. A key new feature is the “Made in Europe” bonus — a 20% increase in support for projects using components manufactured in Europe. The program is managed by OeMAG and funded by the Ministry of Economy and Energy.

“Made in Europe” Bonus and Strategic Shifts
Under the program, homeowners and businesses can receive the following subsidies:

• €160/kW for installations up to 10 kW (budget: €5 million),
• €150/kW for installations between 10–20 kW (budget: €5 million),
• €140/kW for installations between 20–100 kW (budget: €15 million),
• €130/kW for installations over 100 kW (budget: €15 million).

Energy storage systems are eligible for support at €150/kWh. The first application round runs until May 8.

A new feature in the second application round — scheduled for June 23 — will be the introduction of the “Made in Europe” bonus, increasing subsidies by 20% for projects that use European-made components. This move responds to unfair competition from cheaper Asian — especially Chinese — suppliers. €12 million will be allocated in the second round, with the remaining €8 million reserved for a third round in October.

Economy and Energy Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer emphasized that supporting European manufacturers and installations aims to increase regional value creation and strengthen Europe’s position as a key hub for the PV industry.

Austria is thus continuing its strategy of supporting the European industry, which began in 2024 with a similar bonus introduced for component manufacturers.

Efficiency, Storage, and Grid Stability
Alongside the new support programs, Austria is shifting its renewable energy (RES) financing strategy. In 2025, €70 million will be allocated to the RES sector — €60 million for photovoltaics and energy storage, and the remainder for small hydropower plants, biomass installations, and wind turbines. This is a marked decrease from 2024, when investments totaled €150 million.

New rules include:

• Funding only for PV systems combined with energy storage from Q4 2025 onward,
• Exclusion of projects generating electricity during periods of negative market prices,
• Priority for hybrid energy sources.

These changes aim to improve grid stability and more effectively allocate public funds. They respond to growing challenges related to energy overproduction curtailment in Austria — in 2024, 57.4 GWh of production was curtailed, with another 4.8 GWh curtailed in January 2025 alone.

Experts such as José Andrés Visquert from BayWa r.e. highlight that similar challenges exist across Europe: grid expansion is lagging behind the rapid growth of RES capacity, which is starting to slow the progress of the energy transition.

Source: pv-tech.org