Hansesun calls for unbureaucratic PV support system instead of hurdles for renewables – pv magazine Germany
Value-added tax off for private systems and two-tier system with fixed subsidy rates up to 500 kWp
Photovoltaic specialist Hansesun is expected to apply the expected investment subsidy regulation with an urgent appeal to the climate protection ministry. The internationally active group of companies refers to the clear and simpler framework conditions in Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Austria is slowing down the urgent energy transition with enormous administrative hurdles. Too little funding and the auction principle prevent investments.
Promoting the future of energy instead of prolonging the funding backlog: Vorarlberg’s photovoltaic market leader Hansesun is calling for a reform of the investment grants for private and commercial PV systems. The company has branches in four countries and criticizes the funding situation in Austria. “The EU has created the legal requirements, people want clean electricity and we have to say goodbye to fossil fuels as quickly as possible. Why is the government putting the brakes on,” asks Hansesun Marketing Director Andreas Müller.
Additional expenditure slows down energy transition
While Germany is creating unbureaucratic incentives for private individuals with the EU-compliant VAT ban for PV systems up to 30 kWp, Switzerland and Liechtenstein are pushing the rapid expansion of the energy future with several higher subsidy rates, simple applications and short waiting times. “In Switzerland there is 400 euros per kWp, in Liechtenstein even 1,300. The application takes ten minutes and the money is there after a maximum of six months,” explains Hansesun funding expert Matthias Priewasser.In Austria, fixed application deadlines and limited funding pools prevent progress. “We spend up to three hours per system for the application and still cannot give our customers any guarantees. At the end of the process, everyone is frustrated,” reports Priewasser. “A renewable turbo looks different,” he adds. The additional administrative effort in 2022 was around 3,600 working hours. Time and resources are lacking in PV expansion. With an invoice to the Ministry of Climate Protection, Hansesun wants to show the deficit. “We don’t need cosmetic changes, but a system reform,” demands Müller.
Value-added tax exemption and fixed subsidy for large systems
Two concrete and easily implemented measures could accelerate the PV expansion enormously. With Directive No. 2022/542 in April 2022, the EU enabled its member states to abolish VAT on PV systems. Germany has been using the unbureaucratic offer since January 1, 2023 for systems up to 30 kWp. Hansesun expert Matthias Priewasser would also like to see the model in Austria: “Everyone will benefit from this sensible and quick solution. The best application for funding is one that doesn’t have to be submitted at all.”For large systems for companies, Hansesun proposes a simple subsidy system with stepless options for submitting applications and fixed subsidy rates up to 1,000 kWp. Registration and final accounting should suffice for processing. “Away with the auction principle and multiple applications,” appealed Priewasser. Plants with a total output of 1.6 GWh (!) across Austria are currently waiting for approval in one funding category alone – more than was installed in total in 2022. Three quarters of the applications for PV systems with an output of more than 100 kWp were rejected in 2022.
“The funding backlog is getting bigger and the incentive to invest is getting smaller. The currently planned system with three application deadlines and a subsidy amount that is far too low will exacerbate the tense situation,” the expert is convinced. “We need simple solutions for simple problems,” agrees Andreas Müller.