immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Winterstrom

  • Investment secures funding for a major wind energy project

    Investment secures funding for a major wind energy project

    aventron AG has acquired a significant stake in the Sur Grati wind farm in the canton of Vaud, according to a press release. The wind farm is operated by the project company VOé éole SA. In addition to aventron, the energy supplier SIE SA, based in Crissier (VD), and the Vaud municipalities of Premier, Vallorbe and Vaulion also hold stakes in the company.

    Aventron’s entry finalised the shareholder structure and the financing of the project company. This followed a positive ruling by the Federal Supreme Court in May 2025 regarding the wind farm’s building permits; the wind farm is scheduled to come online at the end of 2027.

    VOé, which has been developing the project for several years, is a regionally based energy supplier and is contributing its local networks. Aventron brings experience in the construction and operation of wind farms in several European countries. “Together, we are realising one of the largest wind energy projects in Switzerland. In doing so, we are supporting the federal government’s energy strategy and strengthening security of supply, particularly in winter,” said Eric Wagner, CEO of Aventron.

    The wind farm is located on the Jura mountain range in northern Vaud and is currently under construction. Six wind turbines with a total capacity of 25.2 megawatts are planned. The facility is expected to produce around 45 gigawatt hours of electricity annually, which corresponds to the demand of approximately 11,000 households. Once completed, Sur Grati is set to be the second-largest wind farm in Switzerland.

  • Winter electricity from the Alps is performing above average

    Winter electricity from the Alps is performing above average

    The Madrisa Solar power plant generated around 1.5 gigawatt hours of electricity during the first winter half-year, from October to March. This means that production exceeded expectations, as Repower AG states in a press release. During its first winter of operation, around 3,600 solar modules were in operation, which corresponds to approximately 20 per cent of the planned total capacity.

    The plant, which was the first alpine solar power plant in Switzerland to feed electricity into the grid, is located above Klosters at around 2,000 metres above sea level and is specifically designed for winter electricity production. Following the first snowfall, output rose by around 15 per cent thanks to the so-called albedo effect. The bifacial modules also utilise light reflected from the snow cover.

    The electricity generated is used, amongst other things, directly to power the Klosters-Madrisa mountain railways. In combination with existing installations, more energy was produced during the first winter than was required to operate the winter season. With its output to date, Madrisa Solar has comfortably met the minimum production requirement of 500 kilowatt-hours per installed kilowatt of capacity stipulated under the national Solarexpress scheme.

    The second construction phase is scheduled to begin in early May. Once completed, around 70 per cent of the plant is expected to be connected to the grid. Full commissioning is planned for the end of 2027. The developer of the alpine plant is Madrisa Solar AG, in which Repower, the Zurich Cantonal Electricity Works (EKZ) and the municipality of Klosters hold stakes.

  • Central Switzerland’s first alpine solar plant goes online

    Central Switzerland’s first alpine solar plant goes online

    energieUri has connected the first alpine solar plant in Central Switzerland to the grid on the Sidenplangg in the municipality of Spiringen, according to a press release. The plant at an altitude of 1,800 to 2,000 meters is set to generate 12.5 gigawatt hours of electricity per year with a total output of 8 megawatts when fully expanded. Almost half of this will be produced in winter.

    The plant currently supplies 13 percent of the planned electricity. This qualifies it for funding under the Solarexpress program. Work is due to resume in spring and be completed by the end of 2028.

    APV Sidenplangg AG is owned by the Uri-based energy supplier energieUri AG as the initiator and aventron AG, based in Münchenstein BL. “Such power plant projects create and secure highly qualified jobs in the region – be it in the planning, realization or future operation and energy management by energieUri,” says Werner Jauch. CEO of energieUri and Chairman of the Board of Directors of APV Sidenplangg AG, is quoted in the press release.

  • Construction of a solar plant at 2000 metres

    Construction of a solar plant at 2000 metres

    Construction of the Madrisa Solar project by Repower, Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich(EKZ) and the municipality of Klosters has begun, according to a joint announcement by the partners. A solar plant with a production capacity of 12 megawatts is being built at an altitude of around 2000 metres above Klosters. It is expected to supply around 17 gigawatt hours of electricity per year. Over 40 per cent of this will be generated in winter. The electricity produced will be purchased by EKZ for customers in its own supply area and the Klosters-Madrisa mountain railway.

    After the population of the municipality of Klosters voted in favour of Madrisa Solar in October 2023, the first preparatory work began in autumn 2024. Predominantly regional companies were commissioned with the planning and realisation of Madrisa Solar. Around 15 per cent of the plant should be in operation by the end of 2025. Full commissioning is planned for the end of 2027.

    “After an intensive planning phase and a challenging approval process with many parties involved, we are very pleased with the start,” said Michael Roth, Head of Production & Grid at Repower and member of the Executive Board. Paul Sidler, Head of Renewable Energies at EKZ, describes Madrisa Solar as “a further commitment to a secure and sustainable electricity supply in Switzerland. This complex pioneering project also makes an important contribution to the urgently needed winter electricity.”

  • Ground-breaking ceremony for large-scale solar project

    Ground-breaking ceremony for large-scale solar project

    The Baden-based energy service provider Axpo is building a solar power plant above Tujetsch, in the immediate vicinity of the Lai da Nalps reservoir. According to a press release, it will generate 11 gigawatt hours of solar power with an output of 8 megawatts per year from 2028.

    At least 10 per cent of this should be connected to the grid by the end of 2025 in order to meet the requirements of the Solar Express. Further construction stages will be completed during the summer months of the following years, and the plant should reach its full production capacity in 2028. SBB will purchase the solar power for the railway power supply over a period of 20 years. This could cover the annual electricity needs of 2,000 households.

    At the ground-breaking ceremony, the importance of the solar project for the energy transition was emphasised. “Energy production in winter is key for Switzerland – alpine solar plants like NalpSolar make an important contribution when demand is at its highest,” Antoine Millioud, Head of the Solar Division at Axpo, was quoted as saying. Axpo also expects NalpSolar to provide important insights into the technology and realisation of large-scale solar projects in challenging alpine locations.

    Martin Cavegn, Mayor of Tujetsch, emphasised the potential of the plant for a sustainable energy future and value creation in the region. The location right next to the Nalps reservoir combines existing infrastructure with new climate-friendly technology. This brings advantages for local value creation and makes Switzerland’s electricity supply more secure.

  • Energy generation and cooling: façades at the centre of research

    Energy generation and cooling: façades at the centre of research

    HSLU researchers have explored the potential for greenery and solar panels on building façades in the GreenPV project. “While the benefits of PV systems and greenery are already being increasingly utilised on roofs, they have largely not been used on façades to date,” HSLU researcher Silvia Domingo is quoted as saying in a press release issued by the university about the project. However, they could contribute to closing the gap in winter electricity, among other things. This is because “the energy yield of a PV system is higher on a south-facing façade in the winter months than on a roof due to the low angle of inclination of the sun caused by the season”, explains Domingo.

    In addition to their cooling effect, green façades also contribute to biodiversity and the reduction of sound propagation. Air quality is also improved through the binding of pollutants and the production of oxygen. According to the HSLU researchers, greenery and photovoltaics (PV) can be combined well on façades. “PV comes into its own where a high level of energy generation is possible, i.e. on an unshaded façade on the upper floors,” says Domingo. Greenery, on the other hand, should be installed on the lower storeys and in inner courtyards.

    The authors have identified financing and a lack of guidelines and experience as obstacles for building owners. The appearance of a façade completely clad in black solar panels is also not to everyone’s taste. For this reason, the HSLU has already tested alternative colours and textures in another project.

  • Project partners present alpine solar project ScuolSolar

    Project partners present alpine solar project ScuolSolar

    The project partners for the alpine photovoltaic system in the Scuol Motta Naluns ski area want to take advantage of the opportunities arising from the Solar Express initiated by the federal government. For this reason, the municipality of Scuol and its civic community, together with EE Energia Eng iadina and Engadiner Kraftwerke AG from Zernez, are presenting their plans for the area surrounding these ski area facilities, more precisely in the Salaniva area. The public information event took place on 25 July.

    The plant is to be used in particular for the production of renewable winter electricity. According to a media release, existing infrastructure will be used to a large extent for the transmission of the energy. Grazing on the land will continue to be possible.

    The project partners have developed their plan within the framework of a project planning company in which all parties have a one-third share. According to the information provided, this shareholding and participation relationship will also apply to the further planning steps. Ultimately, ScuolSolar AG is to be formed. After the necessary approval of the population, the partners want to further develop “this important pioneering project for the Lower Engadine” with experts, then implement and finally operate it.