October 15, 2026
Austrian Railways (ÖBB) has commissioned its largest photovoltaic power plant, designed to supply the railway network directly. The plant, located near Linz, has almost 38,000 solar panels and will generate around 24 GWh of electricity annually, equivalent to the energy consumption of approximately 8,000 Railjet journeys between Vienna and Linz.
ÖBB has commissioned the largest photovoltaic power station designed to power trains in its portfolio, located in the Asten/Enns area in Upper Austria. The energy generated will be fed directly into the Austrian operator’s railway power grid, helping to power services on one of the country’s most important corridors.
The new facility covers an area of approximately 20 hectares and comprises 37,764 photovoltaic panels, with an estimated annual output of nearly 24 GWh.
According to ÖBB’s calculations, this amount of electricity corresponds to the energy required for approximately 8,000 journeys on Railjet trains between Vienna and Linz over the course of a year.
This comparison represents an energy equivalent, as the electricity generated by the plant is fed into the railway grid and can be used to power several trains.
The photovoltaic plant is situated within the administrative boundaries of the town of Enns, near the Asten railway substation.
The electricity is transmitted via a cable connection approximately two kilometres long and fed directly into the ÖBB railway traction power supply network, which operates at a frequency of 16.7 Hz.
The plant’s location near the substation allows the existing electrical infrastructure to be utilised and the locally generated energy to be integrated into the train power supply system.
The electricity will also be available for services on the Weststrecke, Austria’s main east–west railway line, which connects Vienna, Linz and Salzburg.
“We are constantly developing and expanding the energy supply for rail transport. With the Asten/Enns photovoltaic power station, we are commissioning the largest facility of its kind designed for railway traction. This enables the annual production of a quantity of solar energy equivalent to approximately 8,000 Railjet journeys between Vienna and Linz,” said Karl Streimelweger, Head of the Energy Division at ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG.
The project was launched in August 2025, when the company estimated an annual output of approximately 22 GWh, equivalent to 7,000 Railjet journeys.
Upon commissioning, the estimate for annual output was revised upwards to nearly 24 GWh.
A distinctive feature of the project is that part of the site is located in an area designated as being at risk of flooding.
For this reason, the power station was designed to minimise ground disturbance and allow for natural water drainage and infiltration.
The support structures for the photovoltaic panels are anchored directly into the ground, without the use of massive concrete foundations.
At the same time, the technical stations have been installed on pillars to reduce the risks associated with potential flooding.
According to ÖBB, the entire structure is designed so that it can be completely dismantled at the end of its technical lifespan, estimated at approximately 25 years.
The project also includes measures to protect local biodiversity.
The site will feature meadows with specific vegetation, hedgerows and stone and timber structures designed for amphibians, small mammals and other wildlife.
In addition, an aquatic habitat for amphibians, covering an area of approximately 600 square metres, fed by groundwater, has been created.
The commissioning of the Asten/Enns power station forms part of Austrian Railways’ strategy to increase its own electricity generation from renewable sources.
ÖBB already uses hydroelectric power to supply the railway network and is progressively developing additional photovoltaic and wind power generation capacity.
The new facility complements the existing solar power stations and marks a significant increase in the capacity to generate electricity intended directly for railway traction.
With an estimated annual output of nearly 24 million kWh, the Enns power station is the largest photovoltaic facility of its kind commissioned by ÖBB to date.
 

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