Balcony solar in Austria: 800 W, registration, VAT and subsidies
Up to 800 W without a permit, notice to the grid operator two weeks ahead, what the inverter needs, the end of zero VAT and where subsidies stand.
Last checked on 8 November 2026
What is allowed
Austria calls these systems Kleinsterzeugungsanlagen. The regulator E-Control defines them as generating plants with a total maximum output of at most 800 W per grid user, citing section 6 (1) no. 78 of the new Electricity Industry Act (ElWG). No permit from the grid operator is needed, but the operator must be notified at least two weeks before the system starts. The federal portal oesterreich.gv.at gives the same: 800 W maximum, no permit, notice two weeks before start.
Above 800 W, E-Control says a grid access contract with the operator is needed, following the procedure in its general terms. For renewable plants up to 20 kW of grid effective power, section 96 ElWG provides a simplified procedure.
What the inverter and the wiring need
Small plants are exempt from many requirements of the technical rules TOR Erzeuger Typ A, but not all: above all, an automatic disconnection device must be present. E-Control advises asking the seller for a certificate of conformity from a certified test body, and buying from the maker, an electrical contractor or a specialist retailer. Many makers refer to TOR Erzeuger Typ A in their data sheets next to the CE mark.
Extension leads and power strips must never be used. Feeding in through a fixed socket is possible if the maker approves it in its risk assessment. Because these systems are often connected on the load side of a circuit, the wiring needs spare capacity beyond the rating of its fuse, and E-Control recommends having the installation checked by a qualified electrician first, especially in older buildings. A separate metering point or supply contract is generally not required (section 77 ElWG).
Notifying the grid operator and the building
E-Control says the notice usually goes through the grid operator's online portal. If you rent, E-Control asks you to make sure with the owner that the installation is permitted. In owner occupied flats it has been easier since 1 September 2024: the consent of the other owners counts as given if they are informed beforehand and do not object within two months. An objection needs no reason.
VAT and subsidies
From 1 January 2024 Austria applied a zero VAT rate to PV modules up to 35 kWp, and the Ministry of Finance states in its FAQ that this included balcony systems; mobile modules were excluded. The zero rate generally ended on 31 March 2025. It still applied until 31 December 2025 only where the contract was concluded before 7 March 2025. In the ministry's example, installation after the cutoff is charged at the normal rate of 20 percent. The page was last updated on 1 January 2026.
The federal portal oesterreich.gv.at, last updated on 1 October 2026, names no subsidy specifically for plug in systems; it only links to general PV subsidy programmes. Ask your state and your municipality whether they currently fund balcony systems, and check the conditions before you buy.
What 800 W produces in Vienna
The same calculation as our calculator for Vienna, with PVGIS data: a full 800 Wp system facing south at 35 degrees, the same system vertical on a railing, and a west facing railing. Your own spot can differ a lot, so check it in the calculator before you buy.
| City | Panels | South, 35° | South, vertical | West, vertical | Own use and savings (south, vertical) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vienna | 800 Wp | 906 kWh | 640 kWh | 445 kWh | 408 kWh, €122.49 |