Solar Energy Everlasting in many countries

Axpo’s commitment to a more sustainable future is making a valuable contribution to the energy transition. The continued expansion of solar energy is an important part of that effort. Our expertise covers every stage in the development and operation of a solar project, including the production and supply of electricity from renewable sources and the securing of corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs).

+15

years

experience in the solar business

+900

MW

already developed

10'000

MW

planned capacity in Europe

Whether you are a local authority, a farmer, a landowner or an energy-intensive company, Axpo can apply our extensive experience and expertise to the successful development of your solar project:

  • Guarantee a competitive price for your electricity 
  • Add value to your land, parking spaces and roof-tops
  • Ensure additional income
  • Contribute do the energy transition by producing green electricity
  • Meet your Corporate Social Responsibility commitments
  • Promote local job creation

We take care of all the steps necessary to realise your project, from development and construction to operation and maintenance. Always innovative, we offer cutting-edge solutions that meet the specific requirements of both customer and site. As your preferred business partner, Axpo also acts as the interface with all parties involved throughout the entire lifetime of the solar plant.

Expert in solar plant development

Axpo offers a wide range of solar projects, including PV on office buildings, industrial roofs, car parks, shopping centres, greenhouses, agri-PV, and ground-mounted systems.

The essentials about solar energy

A solar cell is about the size of the palm of your hand and consists of two layers that are two to three tenths of a millimetre thick. Today, most solar cells are made of silicon. Their basic material, quartz sand, is available in large quantities and silicon is considered to be environmentally friendly.

There are two types of solar cell: crystalline and amorphous. Crystalline cells account for the largest share of global production. Monocrystalline solar cells are manufactured from pure silicon, which is withdrawn from a silicon melt in a time-consuming and costly process, pressed into bars, and then cut into discs up to 12 centimetres in diameter. All atoms are aligned equally in the monocrystal. The blue to black cells, which also come in different colours if desired, harvest up to 24 per cent of the solar rays in the laboratory. In practice, however, efficiency is 16 to 20 per cent.  Multi-crystalline solar cells consist of industrially produced polysilicon and their production is significantly less expensive than monocrystalline solar cells. They are bluish in colour and their efficiency in practice is between 11 and 14 per cent.

Amorphous solar cells are less expensive and suitable for simple applications such as a garden fountain or on large house facades. In amorphous solar cells, the electricity generating layer is steamed onto a glass plate. The atoms are no longer deposited in a crystal structure, but in a disorderly (amorphous) manner instead. Relatively little silicon is needed for this process, which lowers the price. ln comparison with the 0.2 to 0.3-millimetre thick crystalline cells, these so-called thin-layer cells measure only 0.01 to 0.05 millimetres. The cells are brown or anthracite in colour with an efficiency of 6 to 10 per cent. On gloomy days, amorphous cells deliver more electricity than others, but their efficiency drops over the years.

When the sun shines, solar panels produce electricity. Logical, isn’t it? But even on less clear days, solar cells can produce electricity, although not at full capacity. This is comparable to our skin, which reacts to solar UV rays even when it is cloudy. Around 75 percent of the electricity generated by conventional solar systems installed in the lowlands, for example, is generated from May to September. What’s more, solar plants do not produce electricity during the night. ln contrast to base load energy from hydro or nuclear power, photovoltaic power is therefore only moderately predictable and controllable.

A typical solar panel (one square metre in size) made of commercially available silicon can generate an average of 180 watts on a clear, sunny day in Switzerland. That's enough to run a laptop computer. A solar power system consisting of several panels with a size of 20 square metres produces around 3,600 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year. In comparison, an average Swiss household consumes between 4,500 to 5,000 kWh of electricity per year.

As a general rule, the output of solar modules essentially depends on the amount of sunlight (global radiation/geographical location), orientation (the more precisely the photovoltaic system is positioned at the optimum inclination angle to the south, the higher the yield) and shade (from trees, chimneys, etc.) But, of course, the quality of the solar cells also has a significant influence on the overall performance.

Find us where you are

Axpo maintains solar parks and offers solar power services in several countries. Find out what we do with solar power in your country and who to contact for further information:

More about our renewabes

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News on our solar projects

23.11.2023

Axpo plans to construct an alpine solar plant in Glarus Süd

Following the full commissioning of Switzerland’s largest alpine solar plant to date in the municipality of Glarus Süd in August 2022, Axpo now plans to build a 10 MWp solar plant in the same region. The plant is intended to provide essential winter electricity and add value to the community. With this sixth alpine solar project, Axpo is consistently driving its solar initiative forward.

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12.09.2023

Axpo plans another alpine solar plant in Ilanz/Glion

Axpo is pushing forward with its solar offensive in Switzerland, which was launched in 2022, and is planning to build an approximately 15-MWp ground-mounted installation in Ilanz/Glion in the canton of Graubünden. According to current planning, the plant is expected to generate around 22 gigawatt hours of sustainable electricity per year, a significant amount of which will be generated in the cold winter months. The project is intended to be a model of how nature, leisure activities and energy production can be combined.

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05.05.2023

Axpo to build 10-MW solar plant in Disentis ski area

Axpo is planning its next alpine solar plant in the Disentis ski area in the Canton of Grisons. With an installed capacity of 10 MW, the ground-mounted plant will produce electricity right where it is needed: The mountain railway to the ski area will be driven with sustainable solar power. With the project, Axpo is moving forward with the solar offensive that was launched in the fall of 2022 and making an important contribution to the development of urgently needed winter power capacities.

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