Wien Energie GmbH announced on Friday the inauguration of a 15 MW alpine solar park in the Austrian province of Styria. Situated at an altitude of 1,200 metres in the municipality of Ratten, the facility was constructed by Austrian firm Strabag.
The installation, featuring 26,433 photovoltaic (PV) modules on slopes reaching up to 85%, is projected to generate sufficient green electricity to meet the annual needs of 5,000 Styrian households.
Spanning 15 hectares, the solar park also serves as grazing land for sheep, integrating renewable energy production with local agricultural practices.
Ratten has a history of collaboration with Wien Energie on renewable energy projects, including the establishment of wind turbines in 2005 and subsequent expansions in 2014.
The newly integrated photovoltaic system complements these efforts, forming a hybrid power plant. Collectively, Ratten's renewable energy initiatives can annually offset up to 57,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, according to company statements.
Looking ahead, Wien Energie plans to invest EUR 130 million (USD 140.9 million) in expanding solar capacity in Styria from 2020 to 2030.
Recent additions to their portfolio include an 8 MW solar plant in St Gallen, a 2 MW facility in Riegersdorf, and the newly launched 15 MW solar park in Gosdorf.
