Groundbreaking Ceremony for a Solar Power Plant in Klement
Windkraft Simonsfeld Sets Another Milestone for Regional Energy Supply
V.l.n.r.: Christian Harrach (Windkraft Simonsfeld), Johannes Madner (Electrify), Maximilian Schütz (Electrify), President of the Lower Austrian State Parliament Karl Wilfing, Mayor of Ernstbrunn Gerhard Toifl, Directors of Windkraft Simonsfeld Markus Winter, Rudolf Schütz (Electrify), Former Mayor Horst Gangl, Nicole Lotter (Windkraft Simonsfeld) , Christoph Hofbauer (Windkraft Simonsfeld), Mayor of Korneuburg and Member of the State Parliament Christian Gepp and Director of Windkraft Simonsfeld Alexander Hochauer
With the official groundbreaking ceremony, Windkraft Simonsfeld is launching the construction of a photovoltaic plant in the municipality of Ernstbrunn. The project represents another important step toward sustainable energy supply and regional energy security. Commissioning is scheduled for early April 2026, and with a rated output of 1 MWp, the plant will generate approximately 1,000 MWh of electricity per year—enough to meet the annual electricity needs of about 250 households.
The photovoltaic plant will be built on a former landfill site—a location that is particularly well-suited because the land cannot be used for agriculture.
PV as an Ideal Complement to Wind Power
“We are very pleased about our second PV plant—the first one in Slovakia has been supplying clean electricity for nearly 15 years. With this photovoltaic plant, we are making good use of an area that was previously contaminated to support the energy transition while also making an important contribution to regional energy security,” emphasizes Markus Winter, CEO of Windkraft Simonsfeld. “The combination of wind power and photovoltaics is particularly crucial for a secure and stable electricity supply. Both technologies complement each other perfectly, with wind power taking the lead in winter and PV in summer, and together they strengthen the security of supply with clean, regionally generated electricity.”
Special attention is being paid to the protection of nature and biodiversity. The construction of the plant will be overseen by an ecological construction supervisor to protect the Pannonian dry grasslands and the barred warbler. The municipality of Ernstbrunn also welcomes the project.
Mayor Gerhard Toifl emphasizes: “The new photovoltaic plant sends an important signal for sustainable development in our municipality. It demonstrates how existing land can be put to good use while making a valuable contribution to the regional energy supply. The project exemplifies how renewable energy, nature conservation, and regional responsibility can be successfully combined.”
Karl Wilfing, President of the Lower Austrian State Parliament, underscores the project’s significance: “A big thank you to two regional companies that are making an important contribution here to our state’s energy self-sufficiency, which is becoming increasingly important. The expansion of renewable energy is a central building block for Lower Austria’s energy independence. Projects like this photovoltaic plant in Klement demonstrate how we can make sensible use of available land while simultaneously making an important contribution to climate protection and regional economic growth.”
With the project in Klement, in the municipality of Ernstbrunn, Windkraft Simonsfeld once again underscores its long-term commitment to renewable energy and a secure, sustainable electricity supply in the region.
