Floating-PV system
in Grafenwörth
| Facts at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Total power (in megawatts peak) | 24.5 MWp |
| Water area used for installation of the PV system (in hectares) | 14 ha |
| Degree of coverage of the PV modules | 42 % |
| Total number of PV modules | 45,304 units |
| Expected annual yield (in megawatt hours) | 26,700 MWh |
| Number of households supplied | around 7,500 |
ECOwind and EVN realised a Floating-PV system north of the town of Grafenwörth (Lower Austria). This is a photovoltaic (PV) system that floats on the water – it is the largest of its kind in Central Europe. It consists of two sub-areas of Teich Nord and Teich Süd (North Pond and South Pond) and is installed over a water area of around 14 hectares. The output of the combined plants will be approx. 24.5 MWp, capable of supplying around 7,500 households with green electricity in the future.
Construction video
ZIB Magazin Klima (TV programme) on ORF III (TV channel) on 5 November 2022
The main benefits of a Floating-PV system at a glance
- Makes use of underutilised expanses of water rather than agricultural land, which is then available for food production
- Significant reduction in costs thanks to the rapid and space-saving installation of the PV system
- Solar panels are more efficient due to the cooling effect of the water
- Less evaporation due to moderate shading of the water surfaces
- Very long service life (at least 30 years) due to the quality and stability of the components
The Floating-PV solar application means that we can make good use of otherwise underutilised expanses of water. In an environment where there is limited available space, such systems are an extremely valuable supplement to more traditional solar installations on roofs or on land.
The main challenges of this project were gaining approval for the installation of a new PV technology in Austria and the local conditions on the construction site with a 7m difference in level between the installation area and the water.
The Floating-PV system in Grafenwörth shows the potential of PV when we also take creative paths in the choice of location. As a pilot project and the first system of this kind in Austria, the official approval in particular was a challenge due to the lack of regulations, which we were only able to overcome thanks to the good cooperation with various stakeholders.
Timeline
End of December
Installation of the PV modules on the north and south ponds completed
December 2022
Completion of the PV system at the Teich Süd (South Pond) site
Mid-November 2022
Installation of the PV system completed at the Teich Nord (North Pond) site
27 October 2022
October 2022
Start of construction in Grafenwörth
August 2022
