Austria's Carinthia welcomes first citizen-financed solar plants - report

Sep 27, 2013 - The first two solar power plants with broad citizens' participation were opened yesterday in Austria's state of Carinthia, in the towns of Villach and Eberndorf, Wirtschaftsblatt reported today.

The facilities, located on the roofs of two Rutar furniture stores, will provide energy to about 200 households. Citizens had the chance to acquire the solar panels which were then leased to the plants operator - Unser Kraftwerk.

The Villach plant will produce 130,000 kWh of electricity per year, while that in Eberdorf some 500,000 kWh. Their use will save about 250 tonnes of CO2 annually. The panels were installed by Klagenfurt-based PVI.

Utility Unser Kraftwerk has so far been present only in southern Austria but intends to launch similar projects in the rest of the country in the next year.

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