Prangerhof in Gschnitz as an example of potential in Tyrolean agriculture
- Landeskulturfonds offers investment loans for PV systems on agricultural buildings
- Contribution to energy autonomy 2050, cost reduction and income branch for agriculture
- Priority for sun harvest from the roof instead of from the field
Three quarters of all roofs in Tyrol that are suitable for the production of solar power must be fitted with PV modules by 2050 so that Tyrol can make itself independent of fossil energy from abroad and, bottom line, be self-sufficient. Large roof areas are available in agriculture. With the support of the Landeskulturfonds (LKF), an institution to strengthen and maintain farms in Tyrol, the PV expansion in agriculture is being pushed. Of the LKF offers interested companies a loan program that is intended to enable and accelerate the expansion of PV in agriculture. The Prangerhof in Gschnitz was one of the first farms to be established with the help of the LKF have a PV system installed.
“The aim is to both advance the energy transition and to strengthen our farms economically. Own energy from the roof should reduce the costs – which have also increased significantly in agriculture – and become a further line of business and income component in addition to other mainstays,” explains LHS Deputy Josef Geisler, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the State Cultural Fund. Since last year, the LKF Investment loans to finance building and roof-integrated PV systems in agriculture. “Our farms can make a major contribution to energy independence, but often do not have the financial clout and infrastructural requirements,” says the energy and agriculture officer LHS Deputy Geisler.
Country supports network access
Up until now, the implementation of larger PV systems on agricultural buildings has often been hampered by high costs for the connection and the necessary reinforcement of the grids. So that solar energy can be fed into the power grid, the power grids have to be expanded, especially in rural areas. According to federal law, the costs for this must be paid by those who want to feed electricity into the grid. “We also removed this stumbling block with a state subsidy for farms to access the network in the fall of last year. We support the connection costs for systems from 20 to 250 kWpeakwhich can amount to several thousand euros, with 40 percent LHS Deputy Geisler on another measure to achieve energy autonomy in 2050.
Food producer and energy supplier
For the Pranger family from the Prangerhof in Gschnitz, the state funding for network access, which has been in effect since the end of September last year, unfortunately came too late. She decided to install a PV system back in spring 2021. This is with 20 kWpeak However, due to the high connection costs, it turned out to be smaller than originally planned. The facility is supported by the LKF went into operation in summer 2021. Around half of the energy produced is used on the farm itself. The rest is fed in. “The PV system helps us to save costs,” explain Each and Peter Pillory. The Pranger family runs their farm in Gschnitz full-time. A few years ago she switched from breeding gray cattle to keeping beef cattle (Tiroler Grauvieh-Almochs). The Prangerhof is under monument protection. Its preservation is a major concern for the family, but at the same time it is also a major challenge and expensive.
“Although the guideline has only been in force for a year, the financing option for the construction of farmer’s PV systems has been actively used with twelve cases so far. Due to the current situation and rising interest rates, we expect increased demand for low-interest loans for the installation of PV systems,” reports LKF-Managing Director Thomas Danzl.
priority for food production
“In the programs of the state of Tyrol and LKF deliberately. Food production has priority. Before we attack valuable agricultural land, energy generation should take place on areas that are already sealed, such as shopping centers or parking lots,” says Geisler. However, that does not mean that ground-mounted systems should generally be rejected. “We will also need ground-mounted systems. But we should proceed very cautiously here.”
In addition to the PV loans, from LKF last year, however, 124 agricultural investment loans totaling almost 14 million euros were granted for construction work on farm buildings and the purchase of special mountain farm machinery. “Thus, the investment volume increased by four million euros compared to 2020, despite increased construction costs,” Danzl sums up the year 2021. A total of around 2,200 loans amounting to 127 million euros have currently been granted to farms in Tyrol. About every fifth active company has financing LKF. “The Landeskulturfonds is thus one of the most important financing partners of Tyrolean agriculture and, with its loan programs, supports investments in animal welfare through investment loans for loose housing as well as adaptation to climate change through irrigation systems or the energy independence of Tyrol,” emphasizes LHS Deputy Josef Geisler the meaning of the LKF far beyond agriculture