Austria: Overall Summary
In Austria, electricity from renewable sources is supported mainly through a feed-in tariff. After the eligibility period for the feed-in tariff expires, biogas plants will be eligible for a successive tariff if certain criteria are fulfilled. Furthermore, the construction of PV installations on buildings and small or medium-sized hydro-electric power stations is supported through subsidies. Electricity from renewable sources is granted access to the grid according to the general legislation on energy and according to non-discriminatory principles.
Heating and cooling from renewable energy sources is supported through different incentive schemes, both on the state level and on the level of the individual federal states (“Länder”). The main scheme on a federal level is the ‘national environmental promotion’ (Umweltförderung im Inland). For renewable energy sources used in transport, a quota system applies. However, investment grants for vehicle conversion or electro mobility are also available within the scope of the klimaaktiv mobil, the environmental friendly mobility promotional programme.
There are several specialisation programmes for RES-installers offered by different institutions, numerous quality standards for RES installations, both an act and an agreement determining the exemplary role of public authorities and a building obligation for the use of renewable heating.