Agro-solar farm generates electricity for 685 homes and provides hay for horses
Upper Austria advances solar energy strategy with Energy AG's Agri-PV plant
Mauthausen, Austria—Energy AG, a local leader in sustainable energy, commenced construction on an Agri-PV plant in Mauthausen on Wednesday. The initiative marks another step towards a greener energy future in Upper Austria, providing 2.4 GWh of electricity annually, sufficient to power approximately 685 households.
"With this Agri-PV plant, we are furthering our commitment to a more sustainable energy supply in Upper Austria," said Energy AG's Chief Technology Officer, Alexander Kirchner. "By combining solar power generation with agricultural use, we are demonstrating regional value creation and promoting climate protection."
Boosting Solar Power Output
The Agri-PV plant in Mauthausen will pave the way for a model of integrated solar energy generation and farming. Roughly 80% of the plant's area will remain dedicated to agriculture, while the remainder generates electricity. The plant will be built on a former landfill site, following Upper Austria's photovoltaic strategy that prioritizes the use of such locations for solar power plants.
Markus Achleitner, Energy AG's Supervisory Board Chairman, highlighted the project's significance in the energy transition process: "This Agri-PV plant in Mauthausen represents another example of how sustainable solar power production can be harmonized with agricultural land use. Upon completion in summer 2025, it will serve as an example for the region in our joint quest for renewable energy sources."
Regional Collaboration and Future Projects
As part of its mission to drive the expansion of photovoltaic plants, Energy AG plans to invest four billion euros in renewable energy by 2035. Around 300 million euros will go towards investments in PV self-generation plants, aiming to construct a total capacity of more than 25 MWp of PV plants in the current fiscal year. This would enable an additional 10,000 households to be supplied with solar power annually.
With the Agri-PV plant in Mauthausen, Energy AG continues to play a central role in the shift to renewable energies in Upper Austria, which is set to contribute significantly to Austria's national goal of achieving 100% of its annual electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2030.
The Agri-PV plant, a collaboration between Energy AG and the regional agricultural sector, integrates solar power generation with farming, showcasing a new model for sustainable energy production. This initiative supports Energy AG's ambitious commitment to invest four billion euros in renewable energy by 2035, with a focus on self-generation plants and a target of powering an additional 10,000 households annually. The successful implementation of this strategy will facilitate Austria's national goal of generating 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, thereby promoting environmental science and lasting environmental protection.
