immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Windpark

  • New wind turbine planned for Flumserberg

    New wind turbine planned for Flumserberg

    Axpo, headquartered in Baden, is starting initial investigations into a possible wind farm on the Flumserberg in the canton of St. Gallen. It could comprise up to six wind turbines. According to a press release, the energy company will install a wind measuring mast this week. This will be used to collect wind and bat data over the course of a year.

    The data collected will serve as the basis for the next project steps and detailed planning. The local community of Flums-Dorf and the Alpkorporation Mols have given their consent for the erection of the wind measuring mast. The 120 metre high mast will be erected on the Grappenchöpf site, a location that Axpo believes offers promising wind potential.

    The electricity produced from the wind farm would be equivalent to the consumption of over 10,000 households. According to the information provided, it could fill the winter gap, as two thirds of electricity production takes place in winter. As Axpo goes on to explain, a wind farm on the Flumserberg would not only help to reduce CO2 emissions and utilise a sustainable, renewable energy source, but would also provide an economic boost for the region.

  • Another stage victory for Quatre Bornes wind farm

    Another stage victory for Quatre Bornes wind farm

    The initiators of the Quatre Bornes bicantonal wind farm have achieved another stage victory. According to a statement, the Federal Supreme Court has rejected the appeal by opponents to repeat the vote on the wind farm in Sonvilier.

    The municipality of Sonvilier can now vote again on the neighbourhood plan on 22 September. This is equivalent to a building permit for the wind farm. The voters of Sonvilier rejected the wind farm on 27 September 2020 with a narrow majority of 289 no votes to 285 yes votes. A municipal initiative launched in December 2021 called for the vote to be repeated.

    In August 2023, the Neuchâtel cantonal court rejected an objection to the planned wind turbines in the Neuchâtel part of the wind farm in the municipality of Val de Ruz.

    The Quatre Bornes wind farm is being planned by the two municipalities as well as 23 farmers and others. Groupe E is investing in the project through its subsidiary greenwatt. The first wind measurements were taken in 2006. The wind farm is to generate 63 million kilowatt hours per year with three wind turbines in Val de Ruz and six in Sonvilier.

  • Construction of a met mast for wind measurement and environmental monitoring started

    Construction of a met mast for wind measurement and environmental monitoring started

    According to a press release,CKW began construction of a measuring mast on the Ruswilerberg on 13 May. The mast carries anemometers at 60, 80 and 100 metres that measure the wind. At heights of 60 and 100 metres, ultrasonic sensors measure the sounds of bats flying by. At the top, sensors measure temperatures and humidity.

    The measurements are collected for at least one year. They are intended to help check the existing wind and weather data and thus ensure the economic viability of the planned wind farm. At the same time, they should help to minimise the impact on humans, animals and the environment.

    CKW is planning a wind farm with five turbines on the Ruswilerberg.

  • Mast measures wind data for Grotwind wind farm

    Mast measures wind data for Grotwind wind farm

    Planning for the Grotwind wind farm is entering the next phase. A measuring mast is currently being erected on the Grot in the municipality of Pfäfers. According to a press release, this is equipped with anemometers and weather sensors at heights of 57, 69 and 80 metres. These will continuously record wind and weather data such as wind strength and direction, turbulence, humidity and air pressure for twelve months. Ultrasonic sensors will also be installed at 69 metres to record the sounds of passing bats.

    The data will help to define the appropriate wind turbines, their number and their optimal placement. They will also help to determine site-specific shutdown algorithms. The aim is to minimise the impact of the planned wind farm on humans, animals and the environment.

    The wind farm is being planned by St.Gallisch-Appenzellische Kraftwerke, SN Energie and the specially founded Grotwind GmbH based in Quarten SG. It will produce electricity for 5000 households.

  • Repower is investing in German wind farms with partners

    Repower is investing in German wind farms with partners

    At the beginning of the year, Repower expanded its portfolio of wind turbines in Germany, the Graubünden energy supplier informed in apress release . Specifically, Repower has taken over the Berlar wind farm in North Rhine-Westphalia. The plant with five turbines and a total output of 7.5 megawatts is expected to produce around 14.4 gigawatt hours of electricity annually. The notification does not provide any information about the purchase price.

    According to the announcement, the Graubünden energy supplier already operates a number of wind farms in Italy and Germany. The new acquisition is to be integrated into the German Repartner Wind GmbH. The company is wholly owned by Bündner Repartner Produktions AG , which is 51 percent majority owned by Repower. The trucks hold the largest minority share with 10.39 percent.

    Via Repartner Produktions AG, Repower wants to offer its shareholders “access to diversified, renewable electricity production”, according to the announcement. In addition to Repower and LKW, other Swiss energy companies are involved in Repartner Produktions AG, including Eniva, WWZ and the electricity works of the Canton of Zurich (EKZ).

    “This stake is an absolute gain for LKW,” said Gerald Marxer, CEO of LKW, in a separate announcement from LKW on the takeover of the wind farm. "On the one hand, we can increase our own production and, on the other hand, we are investing in renewable production technologies in accordance with our strategy."

  • Cantonal court rejects objections to the wind farm

    Cantonal court rejects objections to the wind farm

    The Cantonal Court of Neuchâtel gives the green light to the Montagne de Buttes wind farm . It rejected all objections to the Verrivent SA project. The plaintiffs can now appeal.

    In an identical media release, wind farm operator Verrivent and its half owner, the energy supplier Groupe E Greenwatt , welcome the positive signal. "The decision shows how important the Montagne de Buttes project is for the future of an entire region," Verrivent Chairman of the Board of Directors Alain Sapin is quoted in the press release. The other half of the share capital of Verrivent SA is held by Services Industriels de Genève (SIG). It is planned to open up the share capital to the community in the long term.

    According to the notification, this judicial decision follows a decision of the Neuchâtel government council. In May 2019, he dealt with all objections to the public edition of the cantonal map. The wind farm is part of this plan. In addition, the canton decided on December 28, 2020 to reject all appeals filed in June 2016 against building permit applications in the three affected municipalities of Val-de-Travers, Les Verrières and La Côte-aux-Fées.

    The Montagne de Buttes wind farm with 19 wind turbines is to be built on this site. With an annual electricity production of around 100 million kilowatt hours, it should cover 10 percent of the current annual electricity consumption in the canton and save 180,000 tons of CO2 per year. The investments amount to 140 million francs.

  • Gotthard wind farm is officially inaugurated

    Gotthard wind farm is officially inaugurated

    The Parco eolico del San Gottardo has been officially inaugurated on the Gotthard Pass. It is currently the only wind farm under construction in Switzerland. It will start its regular operation in November. According to a press release by the operator Azienda Elettrica Ticinese ( AET ), “numerous restoration and soil remediation measures” are planned for the coming summer months.

    State Councilor Claudio Zali, Director of the Territorial Department, Airolo's Mayor Franco Pedrini, the General Director of Services Industriels de Genève ( SIG ), Christian Brunier, and the Director of AET, Roberto Pronini, symbolically put the plant into operation. There were also representatives from companies and institutions involved in the project.

    The summer months of the past two years were used for the construction phase. Commissioning was planned as early as autumn 2009. However, according to an article in the “Luzerner Zeitung”, those responsible at the time “admitted that they underestimated the effort involved in the project”. As a justification, the then Chairman of the Board of Directors cited Switzerland's lack of experience with wind farms.

    There are now five instead of the originally planned seven wind turbines on the Gotthard Pass. They were supplied by the German company Enercon . The annual production of these generators of 2.35 megawatts each is estimated at between 16 and 20 gigawatt hours, according to the announcement. They can cover the electricity demand in the Leventina valley between the south portals of the Gotthard tunnel near Airolo to Biasca.

    The investment of 32 million francs was supported by the shareholders of the Gotthard wind farm: AET holds 70 percent, SIG 25 percent and the municipality of Airolo 5 percent. The system receives subsidies from the fund for the cost ceiling feed-in remuneration ( KEV ) for renewable energies for 20 years. This is a federal instrument to promote renewable energies. It is financed by a consumer levy on the electricity price.