Wien Energie Launches 15-MW Alpine Solar Park in Austria

Energy company Wien Energie GmbH said on Friday it has put into operation a 15-MW alpine solar park in the Austrian province of Styria.

The facility was built at an altitude of 1,200 metres in the municipality of Ratten by Austrian construction company Strabag. On behalf of Wien Energie, Strabag installed 26,433 photovoltaic (PV) modules on a slope of up to 85%. The power plant is expected to generate green electricity sufficient to meet the needs of 5,000 Styrian households.

The facility is located on an area of 15 hectares, which also serves as grazing land for sheep.

Rattan has previously collaborated with Wien Energie in other renewable projects, including the installation of 10 wind turbines in 2005 and the addition of 11 more turbines in 2014. The new photovoltaic system has now been integrated with the wind farms, creating a hybrid power plant. In total, Rattan‘s existing renewable capacities can save up to 57,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, according to the statement.

Overall, Wien Energie plans to invest EUR 130 million (USD 140.9m) in solar expansion in Styria between 2020 and 2030. The company has already commissioned an 8 MW solar plant in St Gallen, a 2 MW plant in Riegersdorf and a 15 MW plant in Gosdorf.