Agrophotovoltaic system in OÖ is now powering 1,680 homes

In a significant stride towards a greener future, the largest agricultural photovoltaic (Agri-PV) plant in Upper Austria has been put into operation in Pischelsdorf, district of Braunau. This project, dubbed a "lighthouse project", marks a milestone in the region's quest to transform its industry.

The Agri-PV plant, a collaboration between Energy AG and EWS Consulting GmbH from Munderfing, is the largest single investment by Energy AG to date, totalling €400 million. The facility, spanning 5 hectares, features tracked bifacial PV modules on Franz Bachleitner's farmland.

The plant, which has a total output of 4.58 Megawatts peak (MWp) and consists of 7,514 modules, is expected to produce 5.9 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year. This is enough to supply 1,680 households with solar power.

One of the key advantages of the Agri-PV plant is that it does not compete with food production. In fact, 80% of the area at the Pischelsdorf site will continue to be used for farming, while 20% will be dedicated to solar energy generation. The plant also offers protection against frost and drought damage.

The Agri-PV plant has garnered strong local support, with a high local population participation of 36 percent in the crowdfunding project. Joachim Payr, shareholder of Innviertler EWS Consulting GmbH, developed the Agri-PV plant.

The grid expansion project in Upper Austria's central region, involving a 220-kV ring, is intended to enable the transformation of the industry. The Pischelsdorf solar field is a significant step towards increasing the share of solar power in Upper Austria tenfold by 2030, as agreed by Energy AG Supervisory Board Chairman and Provincial Councilor Markus Achleitner (ÖVP) and Energy AG CEO Leonhard Schitter.

In the current business year, Energy AG aims to build a total output of more than 25 MWp of PV plants. This ambitious goal underscores the company's commitment to sustainable energy solutions and its vision for a greener future. The operation of the Agri-PV plant in Pischelsdorf is a testament to this commitment and a beacon of hope for the future of renewable energy in Upper Austria.