The Austrian government has doubled its renewables budget to €50 million for 2013.
Economy and energy minister Reinhold Mitterlehner, social minister Rudolf Hundstorfer and environment minister Nikolaus Berlakovich have introduced a combination tariff and grant scheme.
From the second quarter 2012, systems in Austria will receive a tariff of €0.197 per kWh on top of a grant towards 20% of the investment costs worth up to €200 per kW. The government believes this will open up the market to those less well-off through a cost-effective low-voltage network and new smart meter technology.
Economy and energy minister Mitterlehner states, "With our expansion campaign we support economically viable projects on the way to market. We want to expand the share of renewables in Austria.