Enery has commissioned one of Styria’s largest photovoltaic plants and, together with Energie Steiermark, is now supplying around 5,450 households with green electricity.
On 1 October 2025, the municipality of Dobl-Zwaring in Styria marked a historic day. With the official opening of the new solar park, Enery and Energie Steiermark demonstrated a strong commitment to Austria’s energy transition. Built on around 20 hectares, the plant is impressive not only in terms of scale, but also in the way it combines ecology, citizen participation, and long-term viability.
The choice of location was deliberate from the outset. Located adjacent to the A2 Southern Motorway, the site offers excellent logistical advantages, while the proximity of an existing substation and direct grid access were key selection criteria. Most of the area is screened by rows of trees, with the remaining sections bordered by hedges to minimize visual impact.
Precision Meets Planning
With an installed module capacity of 20.94 MWp and grid-connection capacity of 18 MW, the Dobl-Zwaring solar park is one of the largest photovoltaic plants in Styria. A total of 29,448 PV modules have been installed, and together they are expected to generate around 26.3 GWh of electricity per year. That is enough to supply about 5,450 households with clean power while avoiding roughly 2,100 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
The plant was designed as a fixed south-facing system to maximize energy yield. One special feature can be found in the park’s southeastern corner, where the orientation of some solar arrays was adjusted slightly to prevent glare for nearby residents and the adjacent motorway. At the same time, this modification made more efficient use of the available land. The project has also been designed with future expansion in mind: a battery storage system is already planned, and the required space, switchgear, and connections have been laid out so that storage can be integrated seamlessly upon completion of the permitting process.
Enery CEO ichard König and COO Lukas Nemec describe Dobl-Zwaring as an ideal site for a ground-mounted solar project and say the company has succeeded in combining ecological and economic value in a mutually reinforcing way. Martin Graf and Werner Ressi, board members of Energie Steiermark, point to the utility’s broader renewables strategy, which includes around EUR 5.5 billion of investment in renewable energy and electricity grids and a solar expansion targeting 300 MW of additional PV capacity. Mayor Waltraud Walch likewise welcomes the plant as a forward-looking solution for the municipality, the climate, and the next generation.
Left to right: Werner Ressi (Energie Steiermark), Mayor Waltraud Walch, Richard König (CEO Enery) sowie Martin Graf (Energie Steiermark)
Energy for the Region—with Participation
One of the most innovative elements of the project is the way Dobl-Zwaring has been integrated as a “smart community.” A defined share of the plant’s capacity is reserved exclusively for local residents and made available through a participation model on attractive terms. That means local people benefit not only indirectly from clean energy, but also directly through lower electricity costs.
At the same time, Enery is implementing the solar park not just as an energy project, but as a broader environmental and community initiative. Ecological measures include bird nesting boxes and wild-bee habitats, stone and deadwood piles and egg-laying sites for reptiles, wildlife corridors, around 8,000 square meters of new hedges, 100 new trees, and roughly three hectares of flowering meadows. Existing woodland islands are being protected, and a resting area has been created under an old oak tree designated for preservation. The project also includes an educational energy trail and workshops with local primary schools so that even children can learn about the importance of renewable energy at an early age.
The maintenance of the green spaces is also sustainable. Around 120 sheep belonging to a local farmer graze the fenced area of approximately 16 hectares. Two wells and water lines were installed to provide for them. The result is gentle landscape management that promotes biodiversity while also strengthening local agriculture.