Guerrilla systems

“Black” solar power

Small "balcony power plants" in particular cause problems - they also have to be registered

(Bild: Netz OÖ)

Thousands of unregistered photovoltaic systems are driving grid operators in Lower Austria to despair. Because they could be the reason why the lights suddenly go out in thousands of households.  

Well-intentioned does not always mean well done. Kurt Reinagel from Netz NÖ confirms what the saying goes: "Many photovoltaic owners can hardly wait to produce solar power. That's why they connect their systems to the grid as soon as they are installed." And without the necessary registration with the grid operator.

2000 to 4000 cases
They have their own name for such cases - guerrilla systems. "Most of them are balcony modules, but there are also larger systems," reports Reinagel. The expert estimates the number at 2000 to 4000 in Lower Austria. The problem that Netz NÖ has with this: "Every photovoltaic system leads to voltage increases in the electricity grid. And as unannounced feed-ins cannot be included in the grid calculation, the grid reaches its technical limits sooner," explains Reinagel. As this sometimes happens unexpectedly, far-reaching consequences can occur - such as total power outages that can affect thousands of households.

In the worst-case scenario, so-called guerrilla photovoltaic systems can even lead to complete power cuts.

Kurt Reinagel, Fachmann von Netz NÖ

Bild: Netz NÖ/Rumpler

Mandatory reporting for "balcony power plants"
Although small "balcony power plants" with a generation capacity of up to 0.8 kW do not require a permit, they do need to be reported. Around 8,500 such photovoltaic systems have been registered in Lower Austria since 2021. In total, more than 100,000 solar power plants are already feeding electricity into the Lower Austrian grid. This means that almost a quarter of all systems in Austria are located between Enns and Leitha.