The small entrepreneur in the photovoltaic sector Max Wagner He attracted attention to himself with a decidedly out of the ordinary protest. Presented himself Completely naked in front of Parliament in Viennawith only a sign bearing the inscription:
“Without subsidies, the photovoltaic industry is naked”
Wagner, owner of the company Autarkiespecialized in the installation of solar systems, has chosen this extreme gesture to denounce the possible Elimination of tax breaks for photovoltaicsunder discussion during coalition negotiations between FPö and ÖVP.
The entrepreneur explained that political uncertainty is putting the sector in difficulty, who had benefited from important growth thanks to the ensection of VAT on the plants solar introduced by the Minister of the Environment Leonore Gewessler in January 2024.
A sector at risk without incentives
Photovoltaics in Austria has recorded significant expansion in recent years. The elimination of VAT has encouraged many families and small businesses a invest in solarhelping to reduce the country’s energy dependence. The government had set the goal of one million photovoltaic roofs by 2030 And currently you are already halfway.
Now, however, the possible elimination of these incentives risks braking the sector abruptly. Wagner stressed that the negative impact would not only concern his business, but also Artisans, retailers, installers and entire productive supply chains.
The experience of other countries shows that Support policies are decisive for the development of photovoltaics. Spain, for example, had introduced a “tax on the sun” which slowed down the growth of the sector until its abolition in 2018. Italy recorded a drop by 20% in the installations after the removal of tax incentives.
Wagner said he talked to several politicians, including FPö exponents and argued that this measure is counterproductive. His protest had great media echobut it remains to be seen if it will be able to influence government choices. In the meantime, the Austrian photovoltaic sector (and our planet) await with suspended breath.
