Lower Austria: Interactive map shows available grid connections for solar systems

In Austria, the construction of new solar power plants repeatedly encounters bottlenecks in the grid. The problem: Many project developers and installers are unaware of where grid connections and grid capacity are still available and where the grid is already reaching its limits. This repeatedly leads to delays in the construction of new solar generators.

Colors indicate utilization

Lower Austria Network (Netz NÖ) is now solving this problem with an interactive transformer map. This allows tradespeople and planners to see in advance where free capacity is still available in the grid – updated daily and broken down to the individual transformer station. A color-coding system allows tradespeople and planners, as well as homeowners and property owners, to see exactly what the connection situation is at each individual transformer in Lower Austria. The individual colors indicate whether free connections are available without restrictions, whether there are already regional or local bottlenecks, or whether there are no more grid connections available.

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Also suitable for large systems

Not only household customers can find transparent information on Netz NÖ's website, but also operators of large-scale plants. Two additional maps provide investors and planners with information on the supply area of ​​the substations and the status of planned expansion projects. "This not only provides energy communities with a valuable planning basis, but also provides crucial information to all future energy producers," emphasizes Werner Hengst, Managing Director of Netz NÖ.

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Find the nearest transformer

He points to the second interactive map released by the grid operator. In a local query, Lower Austrian residents can enter the number of their metering point. They will then find out which transformer station and substation they are supplied by. Based on this information, they can then decide which renewable energy community they can join.

Various discounts on network fees

This is because all participants in a local renewable energy community must be supplied by the same transformer station. Participants in a regional renewable energy community must be supplied by the same substation. The differences lie in the amount of the discount that the local and regional energy communities receive on grid fees.

Both the transformer map for searching for available grid connections and the local area query for the energy communities can be found on the Netz NÖ website.