Young people from Salzburg are developing solar umbrellas – salzburg.ORF.at
Business
Two young people from Salzburg have developed special solar umbrellas for generating electricity. These take up little space and can be used so that the sun can be used all day long. According to experts, there is an urgent need for far more photovoltaic systems on undeveloped areas.
However, this soil should not be lost for agriculture. The two entrepreneurs who developed the screens point out that as temperatures rise, these systems will bring several benefits to farmers.
The photovoltaic panels, mounted on pillars, harness the sun’s energy and also provide shade to the plants underneath. In Germany permits for such plants are easier to obtain. In Austria it is much more difficult, says Martin Lublasser, one of the managing directors of the producer company Anywhere Solar.
“Resistance at every nook and cranny”
“There is resistance at every turn for photovoltaic systems in open spaces. An important topic is of course the protection of the landscape. But it is also about the availability of grid connections and the approval procedures and their duration. You have to step on the gas more, otherwise it won’t work out,” demands Lublasser.
A system with an area of almost 90 square meters generates enough electricity each year to power eight households. The soil remains usable for agriculture, tractors and trucks can continue to drive on the land. So far there have been around 2,000 requests for the umbrellas. The systems can be delivered from 2023, the first of which will probably be in Lower Austria or Bavaria.