Subsidy Debate: Should Rooftop PV Manage Without Grants in the Future?

The discussion about the future of PV subsidies in Austria is becoming more heated. Verbund CEO Michael Strugl is calling for an end to subsidies, arguing that rooftop photovoltaics has by now become cost-effective even without state grants.

Opposing this are demands from Niederösterreich and Burgenland, which instead call for a revision of the Systemnutzungsentgelte-Grundsatzverordnung (grid usage fees framework ordinance) – among other things, to make it easier to expand battery storage. PV Austria also continues to insist on improvements to grid fees.

For households and energy communities, this debate is no minor footnote: it helps determine how attractive new investments in PV systems will remain in the future and how strongly grid costs will affect profitability.

The DEA is closely observing developments, since both the level of subsidies and grid fees directly factor into the calculation of new member installations. A final new regulation is currently still pending.

Bild: KI-generiert