While private households can often only use part of the electricity generated directly, businesses with their consistent energy requirements during the daytime hours cover the production of the PV systems almost perfectly. This means that a large proportion of the solar power generated is consumed directly by the company - which not only reduces energy costs, but also minimises dependence on fluctuating market prices.
Banner Batterien sets standards
The example of battery manufacturer Banner at its Leonding site shows just how great this potential is. The construction of an extensive photovoltaic system was recently completed there. It consists of four large rooftop systems, three ground-mounted systems and one flying roof system. With a total output of around 1,340 kWp, the system generates an average of 1.37 GWh of electricity per year, which is used entirely to supply the plant. By way of comparison, this could cover the annual electricity requirements of around 450 households (with a consumption of 3,000 kWh/household). This example illustrates how companies not only save costs through photovoltaics, but also make an active contribution to the energy transition.
Strong growth across Austria
In 2024, a total of around 2.2 GWp of PV capacity was newly installed, bringing the cumulative capacity to around 8.3 GWp. These systems fed around 8.82 TWh of solar power into the grid, which corresponds to 11.2% of total electricity demand. The dynamics over the course of the year are particularly impressive: 1.4 GWp were added between January and September alone - including 400 MW in the third quarter alone. According to the transmission system operator APG, photovoltaic capacity grew by an average of around 200 MW per month in 2024. This development clearly shows that PV is now a mainstay of Austria's energy supply. Source: Austria installs 2.2 GW of PV in 2024 - pv magazine International
Sustainability as a competitive advantage
In addition to the economic aspects, PV systems also make an important contribution to climate protection. Austria wants to significantly increase the proportion of renewable energy by 2030, and industrial and commercial sites in particular offer enormous potential. Roof surfaces of production halls, warehouses or car parks can be used efficiently to provide several terawatt hours of clean electricity. This enables companies to strengthen their sustainable image and gain a competitive edge with customers, partners and investors.
#schongenial when Austrian companies turn their roofs into power plants thanks to photovoltaics, reduce electricity costs and actively contribute to the energy transition at the same time.
