The largest alpine solar plant in Switzerland
Pioneer project at a glance
Now we are building Switzerland's largest alpine solar plant at 2500 metres above sea level. From autumn 2021 the pioneer project AlpinSolar will produce 3.3 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year - half of it in winter. Like this, we can use solar energy at any time of year and despite the sea of fog.
The energy service providers Axpo and IWB are transforming the dam wall at Muttsee into the largest alpine solar plant in Switzerland. Denner supports the project and will purchase the solar power over the next 20 years.
Impressions start of construction
We use the sun where it is the closest
The Muttsee dam is extremely well suited for a photovoltaic plant thanks to its existing infrastructure, its orientation and its altitude:
- Owing to the alpine location at 2500 m.a.s.l., solar power is particularly effective and generates lots of power in the winter thanks to snow reflection and a lower incidence of fog.
- The Muttsee dam faces the south and, as a result, has sun all day.
- The Muttsee dam has an optimal angle – snow slides off the surface on its own.
- Only existing infrastructure will be used so that no additional open space is needed for construction.
- Some of the infrastructure (e.g. 16-kV grid connection) is already in place.
Local, renewable power for Denner
Denner, the largest discounter in Switzerland, has contracted the alpine solar power generated as of commissioning for a term of 20 years. In doing so, Denner continues to rigorously pursue its ambitious sustainability objectives and will supply its stores and offices with 100% renewable, local power.
Politics
The energy transition requires additional large-scale plants, but...
Achieving the energy transition is contingent upon the construction of many more large-scale, renewable energy producing plants like AlpinSolar in the upcoming years. Unfortunately, there is little perceptible development in this area. This is because the current subsidy framework is designed for small plants with captive use. Today, large-scale plants are an economic risk. This is also likely to be the case for AlpinSolar.
In view of the importance of the project for the energy transition – electricity in winter – Axpo and IWB have decided to move forward despite the risk. The energy suppliers hope to gain experience in the construction of these types of plants, collect data for research, and send a signal to the whole of Switzerland, especially to politics. In addition, with Denner, they have found a power consumer that, under its sustainability strategy, is prepared to pay a price that will cover the high investment costs for the plant.
The Energy Act must improve the subsidy framework
The success of the energy transition cannot be dependent on whether companies that are prepared to accept uneconomical projects can be found. Switzerland must improve the political framework conditions for large-scale plants. The current revisions of the Energy and Electricity Supply Acts is an opportunity to do so. The bill will come before Swiss Parliament this summer. Along with a major part of the industry, Axpo and IWB have contributed to the discussion with proposals on how this could be achieved: For example with a floating market premium based on international standards.
Alpine solar power in winter
In winter, Switzerland produces significantly less power than it consumes. This lacking power in winter has to be imported. The situation will intensify in the upcoming years when nuclear and coal-fired power plants are taken off grid in Switzerland and abroad.
This makes it important to find solutions to produce additional power in the winter from renewable sources. The large-scale, alpine power plant in the Glarus Alps will make a contribution: It will generate 50 per cent of its production during the winter.
Solar plants in the Midlands are often under the fog line during the winter months – there is much less fog and more sun at high altitudes. In addition, PV plants like the cold. The efficiency of solar modules is higher at low temperatures than when it is hot. And sunlight is reflected by the snow cover and results in higher solar power production. This is called the Albedo effect. Furthermore, the angle of the dam is optimal for solar power production in winter.
Data for research
The pioneer project in the Alps offers an opportunity to collect empirical values and data for research that could be useful for future plants in the alpine region. This research could include, for example, testing different types of panels, comparing different panel inclination angles on the dam, or empirical data on wind forces and snow loads.
To minimise plant risks due to snow loads, Axpo has already had a study carried out by the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research in which every section of the dam was analysed to see how much pressure snow puts on the solar panels. This study is the basis for assessment for the alpine solar plant.
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- Visualisation Muttsee dam wall: Bird's eye perspective Send email Download
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- Visualisation Muttsee dam wall: short video Send email Download
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- Start of construction (7 images, 1 video) Send email Download
- Construction (8 images) Send email Download
