Winter's Highest Solar Energy Generator
Switzerland Pushes Forward with High-Altitude Solar Power Plants
Switzerland is set to increase the number of high-altitude solar power plants, following the successful performance of the AlpinSolar power plant located at 2,500 meters on the dam of Lake Mutt in the canton of Glarus. This move aligns with Switzerland's broader solar energy strategy, aiming to enhance renewable generation, particularly through alpine solar farms.
The AlpinSolar power plant, the largest solar power plant in the Alps, boasts 5,000 panels and a kilometer in length. It is unique in its design, with the panels inclined at 51° to 65°, allowing them to withstand snowfall, with snow sliding off quickly. This design, coupled with the dam's southwest orientation, lack of higher mountains, and long length, makes it an ideal location for alpine photovoltaics.
The energy produced by AlpinSolar has already been sold to the supermarket chain Denner for the next 20 years. The plant can produce 3.3 million kilowatt-hours per year, which is sufficient to power 700 homes. Interestingly, the winter production of the AlpinSolar power plant is at least three times more than solar panels installed in the valley, thanks to the light reflected by snow, increasing its efficiency.
Switzerland's push for more high-altitude solar power plants is driven by several factors. The country aims for 24 terawatt-hours (TWh) of solar electricity annually by 2040, up from 5.3 TWh in 2023. This ambitious target requires significant expansion, including in alpine regions.
The government provides dedicated subsidy programs and streamlined legal frameworks promoting high-altitude solar projects, recognizing their unique contribution in winter energy production when demand is high. Alpine solar installations face technical and environmental challenges, such as steep terrain, heavy snow, severe weather, and construction constraints, but these are being addressed with advanced engineering designs and careful environmental planning.
Axpo, Switzerland's main utility, is leading the charge with its "SolarOffensive" program. The first project under this program, Ovra Solar Campluns, will be the largest solar plant in Switzerland, covering the slope of the Alpe di Schnaus in Graubünden with 36,000 panels. Axpo aims to generate 1,2 gigawatts of new solar power by 2030 through this program.
The construction of AlpinSolar cost 8 million Swiss francs (around 8.3 million euros). The plant was built by Axpo and Iwb, the multi-utility of Basel. The thinner air at high altitude favors more intense solar radiation for the AlpinSolar power plant.
Switzerland's decision to phase out nuclear power by 2034, starting with the oldest one, Beznau, scheduled to close by 2031, further emphasizes the importance of renewable energy sources like solar power. Switzerland is particularly hungry for renewable winter electricity, making high-altitude solar power plants an integral part of the future energy system.
In conclusion, the improved winter solar generation performance in alpine settings is motivating the development of more high-altitude solar power plants in Switzerland. This shift towards renewable energy is a significant step towards energy security and a sustainable future for the country.
[1] Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE), "Solar Energy Strategy 2050" [2] Swiss Federal Statistical Office (SFSO), "Solar Energy in Switzerland: Statistics and Trends" [3] ETH Zurich, "Solar Energy Research" [4] Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), "Alpine Solar Energy"
- The success of the AlpinSolar power plant in Switzerland, located at high altitudes, has inspired plans to increase the number of such plants, aligning with the country's broader strategy to escalate renewable energy generation, especially through alpine solar farms.
- By 2040, Switzerland aims to produce 24 terawatt-hours (TWh) of solar electricity annually, a significant expansion that includes alpine regions, driven by factors such as the unique winter energy production capabilities of high-altitude solar power plants.
- Recognizing the technical and environmental challenges in alpine solar installations, the government provides dedicated subsidy programs and streamlined legal frameworks to promote high-altitude solar projects in Switzerland.
- Advanced engineering designs and careful environmental planning are being employed to address the challenges like steep terrain, heavy snow, severe weather, and construction constraints associated with high-altitude solar power plants.
- Switzerland's solar industry is making substantial strides, with Axpo, the country's main utility, planning to generate 1,2 gigawatts of new solar power by 2030 through its "SolarOffensive" program, which includes the construction of the largest solar plant in Switzerland on the slope of Alpe di Schnaus in Graubünden.
