Limmern PSP awarded for recultivation

09.09.21 - During the construction of the Limmern pumped storage plant (canton of Glarus), Axpo was responsible for one of Switzerland’s largest building sites, between Tierfehd and Muttenalp. But today there is barely a trace of it to be seen. It’s all thanks to a specialist recultivation project conducted over a number of years, which has now been recognised by the Swiss Association for Engineering Biology. 

The Swiss Association for Engineering Biology awarded its ‘Greener Prize 2021’ to the recultivation project around the Limmern pumped storage plant ‘for the outstanding work before the actual greening and the flawless execution of the work, for the positive cooperation with the authorities and environmental associations, and for raising awareness among the construction companies’.

Around 600 people and countless pieces of heavy machinery were deployed in the construction of the Limmern pumped storage plant between 2009 and 2016, along with two construction cableways. It was already apparent in the planning stage that the construction site and the cableways would place a strain on the environmentally valuable terrain. The builders coordinated the technical possibilities and the definitive recultivation concept with the environmental working group assigned to the project and with the authorities. The stated objective was to ensure that any interventions in the landscape and habitats would be invisible in the medium term.

Test garden 2,500 metres above sea level

Even during the construction phase, specialists commissioned by Axpo were carrying out greening experiments. They collected and propagated seed and plant material in the construction site area at various altitudes. To assess the various greening methods, the resulting plants were planted in a test garden in the Muttsee area. A total of 2,000 seedlings were planted and observed in 25 trial areas. 

For the final recultivation, additional local seed material was collected and propagated to ensure that enough seeds and plants would be available when the demolition work began. And now large parts of the construction area have already returned to nature. Where there was once a construction site and construction cableway, most of the original vegetation has returned.

You can find detailed information about the project in Ingenieurbiologie magazine.

Axpo Holding AG

Corporate Communications

medien@axpo.com

T 0800 44 11 00 (Schweiz) 
T +41 56 200 41 10 (International)

(08.00 - 17.30)

More media releases

Show all

Nuclear energy 14.01.2016

Management change planned in Nuclear Energy division

Stephan Döhler (53), at his own request and as planned for sometime, intends to give up operative management of the Axpo Nuclear Energy division by December 2016 at the latest. He will continue working for Axpo in the function of Senior Manager Nuclear Energy in a reduced capacity. Axpo has already started the recruitment process for a new Head of Nuclear Energy.

Read more

Nuclear energy 15.12.2016

New provisional contribution rates for the Decommissioning and Waste Disposal Funds

The costs for decommissioning and disposal of the Swiss nuclear power plants are reviewed and adapted every five years. Based on the latest cost studies in 2016, the Administrative Commission of the Decommissioning and Waste Disposal Funds (STENFO) has determined the new, provisional contribution rates for the period from 2016 to 2021. Axpo’s contributions will be significantly lower than in the previous assessment periods.

Read more

Renewable energy 04.11.2016

Axpo Tegra AG inaugurates new wood chip drying plant

After approximately nine months of construction the moment has arrived: Axpo Tegra AG in Domat/Ems can take up operation of its wood chip drying plant. The new plant was officially inaugurated this morning in the presence of invited guests. With the commissioning of the wood chip drying plant, the wood-fired power plant, which produces electricity, process and useful heat, can begin running at full capacity again.

Read more