(MENAFN- Swissinfo) Switzerland wants to develop large solar farms in high-mountain regions to generate lots of extra renewable power, especially in winter. The first major project under the federal government's“Solar Express” scheme is being built near the village of Sedrun in southeast Switzerland.

This content was published on September 13, 2024 - 09:00 3 minutes

Born in London, Simon is a multimedia journalist who has worked for since 2006. He speaks French, German and Spanish and focuses on science, technology and innovation issues.

• More from this auth
• English Departme

Julie worked as a radio reporter for BBC and independent radio all over the UK before joining swissinfo's predecessor, Swiss Radio International, as a producer. After attending film school, Julie worked as an independent filmmaker before coming to swissinfo in 2001.

• More from this auth
• Multimed

• Italiano it Al via la costruzione del primo grande parco solare sulle Alpi svizzere Read more: Al via la costruzione del primo grande parco solare sulle Alpi svizzer
• Español es El primer gran parque solar comienza a construirse en los Alpes suizos Read more: El primer gran parque solar comienza a construirse en los Alpes suizo
• Português pt Suíça constrói primeiro parque solar de grande escala nos Alpes Read more: Suíça constrói primeiro parque solar de grande escala nos Alpe
• 日本語 ja スイスアルプス初 大規模ソーラーパークが起工 Read more: スイスアルプス初 大規模ソーラーパークが起
• العربية ar انطلاق الأشغال في المزرعة الشمسية الأكبر في جبال الألب Read more: انطلاق الأشغال في المزرعة الشمسية الأكبر في جبال الألب

Amid concerns over the climate crisis and energy supplies, two years ago the Swiss parliament approvedExternal link legislation to simplify and speed up the construction of large solar parks in high-mountain areas. The federal law lowers the hurdles for construction – including strict environmental regulations – and offers generous subsidies (60% of project costs). But operators must be start feeding electricity into the grid from the end of 2025 in order to secure the vital state funding.

+ Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox

Following the legal change, around 50 large-scale projects have been presented so far. But a third have reportedly been abandoned, often due to local opposition, delays or for financial reasons. Only four projects have received planning permission to date. Of these, work has started on one: at the mountain village of Sedrun in canton Graubünden.

In mid-August a small inauguration ceremony was held on the mountain above Sedrun that will host the farm of 5,700 solar panels.

Computer-generated image of the planned SedrunSolar park in canton Graubünden in southeastern Switzerland. Energia Alpina

“It's a once-in-a-lifetime project,” the local mayor, Martin Cavegn, told Swiss public television, SRF.“It's a south-facing slope that is fully developed. There are already roads and an electricity grid connection. It is very easy to build here.”

The first new panels for the park will be installed from October. When completed, the 300,000m2 facility is expected to have a capacity of 19.3 megawatts – almost ten times the amount produced by the largest existing solar plant in the Swiss Alps, on the Muttsee dam . The Sedrun facility should cover the needs of 6,500 local homes.

More More Mountaintop solar farms spark tensions in Switzerland

This content was published on Oct 17, 2022 Building large solar parks in high-mountain regions is arguably an effective way to produce more power in winter. But it remains highly controversial.

Read more: Mountaintop solar farms spark tensions in Switzerlan

Alpine solar installations offer the advantage of generating large amounts of electricity during the colder months when many lowland solar panels are shrouded in fog. Around half of the electricity generated by the new CHF85 million ($100 million) facility will be in winter when demand is high.

+ Switzerland needs energy, but what kind?

The solar park is being built together with the local energy operator, Energia Alpina, and the renewable energy firm Aventron. It was approved by the local community in a vote.

The fact that it was a local project was“decisive” for voters' approval, Energia Alpina president Ciril Deplazes told the Keystone-SDA news agency.“The mountain population does not want to sell everything to the lowlands,” he added.

+ Switzerland should better harness solar power

Another key factor behind its successful planning and launch is the fact that the solar panels will be hardly visible, even from the nearby slopes. The project had the full backing of the local environmental organisations from its conception.

“The project doesn't just cover everything with solar panels,” said Anita Mazzetta, head of WWF Graubünden.“The location is well chosen on a terrain that is already overdeveloped – somewhere between the ski slopes and avalanche barriers. There are no major conflicts with nature or the landscape.”

More More No vote for Alpine solar parks: what does it mean for Switzerland?

This content was published on Sep 11, 2023 Voters in canton Valais have rejected the rapid expansion of solar parks on their sunny mountain peaks and pastures. What are the implications?

Read more: No vote for Alpine solar parks: what does it mean for Switzerland

Edited by Sabrina Weiss/ts

MENAFN08012025000210011054ID1109068509