Central Europe’s largest PV plant, with a peak output of 164 MW, has been launched in Burgenland, Austria. Developed by Burgenland Energie and built on Schletter’s single-axis Tracking System 2V, the project showcases how agriculture, biodiversity, and clean power generation can work in tandem.
The project, spanning 180 hectares in Wallern and Tadten, features 260,000 PV modules that can be set to ‘cultivation mode,’ allowing farmers to continue using over 75% of the land for agriculture. The system's design includes a 1.6-meter biodiversity strip beneath the modules to support birds, bats, and pollinators.
The installation, planned for easy dismantling at the end of its 40-year lifespan, uses corrosion-resistant steel posts that leave no residue. The system also provides environmental benefits such as improved water balance and reduced soil erosion.
Sonnenbau GmbH, a Burgenland Energie subsidiary, brought the project to fruition, marking Schletter’s third collaboration with Burgenland Energie in Austria. The completed Burgenland plant will provide solar power for around 62,000 households over its lifetime.
