Triggering a Rush to Alpine Locations in Graubünden due to Solar Energy
Published: Sunday, Aug 6th 2023, 12:40
تم التحديث في: الجمعة، 13 أكتوبر 2023، الساعة 14:12:14
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The Solar Offensive of the Federal Government has triggered a run on high alpine sites in Graubünden. Most of the large solar installations are planned to be built next to ski resorts. Energy companies from the Swiss Plateau are behind the projects. According to a recent research by the news agency Keystone-SDA, energy companies have announced at least 10 projects in the canton of Graubünden. Axpo, Repower and the Electricity Works of the City of Zurich (EWZ) are each pushing forward two large solar projects. While Repower and EWZ are considering other sites, Axpo has other non-communicated open-air installations in the pipeline. The Industrial Works of Basel is also involved in a project. Other solar power plants are planned by local companies, the Engadine Power Plants (EKW) together with Energia Engiadina (EE), the Electricity Works of Samedan and Energia Alpina (EA) from Sedrun. The plants, which are planned at an altitude of 1700 meters above sea level, will have a capacity of between 7.5 megawatts (MW) and 61 MW, enough to cover the electricity consumption of 2000 to 50,000 households. The area required is large, ranging from a dozen hectares to almost one square kilometer. Seven of these large installations are planned next to ski resorts: Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis (Axpo and EA), Laax (Repower), Savognin (EWZ), Splügen-Tambo (EWZ), Motta Naluns in Scuol (EKW/EE) and Madrisa in Klosters (Repower). One plant is planned at the Nalps reservoir in Sedrun (Axpo), on the Alp Run in Disentis (IWB) and at the Engadin Airport in Samedan (EW Samedan). The projects were triggered by the Federal Government's Solar Offensive, as a survey by Keystone-SDA with the energy companies showed. Thanks to the investment contributions of the Federal Government of up to 60 percent, alpine solar plants could be realized economically for the first time. The high alpine locations are justified by the efficient power output in winter, as required by the Federal Government. This can hardly be achieved in the Swiss Plateau, according to Axpo. Alpine solar plants would deliver up to five times as much electricity in winter as those in low-lying areas. The sun shines more often, more strongly and is also reflected by the snow. Two projects have so far passed the hurdle of a municipal vote and have received the green light from the voters: the Repower plant at the Vorab in Laax (7.5MW) and the plant of the Electricity Works of Samedan at the local airport (30MW). Further municipal votes are scheduled for the coming months. In addition to these, the result of the environmental impact assessment is "decisive" and the attitude of the environmental organizations towards the individual projects. The canton must grant a permit as the last instance. So far, no building applications have been received by the Office for Energy and Transport, as Amtsvorsteher Thomas Schmid explained on request. Good projects in areas that are already developed and already burdened in other ways - by infrastructure such as ski lifts, dams, etc. - will have better chances of realization, Schmid explained. For environmental organizations, these criteria are a mandatory requirement for the free-standing large plants, as Pro Natura Graubünden and Mountain Wilderness explained on request. Both organizations would clearly prefer solar panels on existing buildings and infrastructure. While the Alpine Protection Organization Mountain Wilderness is "open to installations in already developed and pre-loaded areas", Pro Natura sees the alpine open-air installations "in any case critically".nnnn
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