en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Austrian Ministry of Economic Affairs recently launched a new round of solar and energy storage subsidy applications, with a total budget of €12 million (approximately $13.9 million). Funding agency OeMAG stated that €2 million each will be allocated to Class A systems (up to 10 kW) and Class B systems (10 kW to 20 kW), while Class C systems (20 kW to 100 kW) and Class D systems (over 100 kW) will each receive €4 million.
The Ministry stated that the first round of subsidies this year allocated €40 million, followed by an additional €30 million from remaining funds due to strong demand. Even so, only slightly more than half of the nearly 29,000 applications were approved, involving a total subsidy amount of €135 million. The first round also revealed a structural trend: approximately 90% of applications included storage components. State Secretary Elisabeth Zehetner said this reflects the direction of market development.
"When solar power is abundant at midday, it must be stored and made available when households, businesses, and industry need it," Zehetner said. "Renewable energy generation must evolve into a viable energy system." She added that the increase in negative electricity price hours in Austria underscores the need for this "paradigm shift." Last year, Austria recorded around 450 hours of negative electricity prices. However, she noted that negative prices are not evidence against renewables but highlight the need for improvements in storage, grid infrastructure, flexibility, and smart control systems.
Zehetner compared the situation to collecting rainwater in a garden barrel: "When it rains heavily, you don't let the water flow into the sewer; you collect it. Later, during a drought, you use it to water plants. This is exactly how we should handle solar energy in the future: when there is abundant cheap photovoltaic power at midday, store it."
Small photovoltaic systems receive fixed subsidy rates: €150 per kW for systems up to 10 kW, and €140 per kW for systems between 10 kW and 20 kW. For systems with a capacity of 20 kW or more, funding in this round will be awarded through a competitive bidding process, prioritizing projects requiring the lowest subsidies. The "Made in Europe" bonus will also be retained: photovoltaic systems and storage units using European value-added technology components are eligible for a 10% bonus on the approved subsidy. According to the Ministry, 46% of photovoltaic applications already include European-made inverters.
"With the upcoming amendment to the Renewable Energy Expansion Act, we will take the next step," Zehetner said. "The 'Made in Europe' requirement for inverters will become mandatory. This will strengthen cybersecurity, reduce dependencies, and ensure more value creation remains in Europe."
The third round of subsidy applications for 2026 will take place from October 8 to October 22, with a total budget of €8 million, allocating €2 million each to Classes A through D.
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