Agri-PV plant powers ÖBB trains

In Thalsdorf, Austria, the national railway operator ÖBB has developed the country’s first Agri-PV installation for traction power, combining sustainable agriculture with the clean energy generation for the rail network. The 13 MW photovoltaic system, built with Trinasolar Vertex N modules, marks a major step forward in integrating clean energy into critical infrastructure while preserving the multifunctional use of land.

The system comprises approximately 19,000 solar modules spread across 6 hectares, with an annual generation capacity of around 15 GWh. Situated adjacent to the railway line, the system feeds 16.7 Hz traction current directly into the overhead line, eliminating the need for additional conversion or transport. This proximity not only improves efficiency but also supports the long-term decarbonisation of Austria’s national rail operations.

Beneath the solar modules, the site remains in active agricultural use. Around 6,000 chickens and 60 sheep graze and forage freely across roughly 14 hectares, demonstrating the compatibility of renewable energy generation with livestock farming. The design prioritises ecological value, with tree planting and flower strips seeded with native species enhancing local biodiversity. Pile-driven foundations maintain the soil’s infiltration capacity and allow the entire installation to be dismantled cleanly at the end of its service life, leaving no lasting impact on the landscape.

With its dual-purpose land use, ecological enhancements, and direct feed-in to the railway grid, the ÖBB Thalsdorf site represents a progressive model of how infrastructure, agriculture, and energy production can coexist in harmony, delivering environmental, operational, and community benefits in equal measure.