Münchenstein, 16 August 2024: The Sedrun-based energy supplier ‘energia alpina’ and Primeo Energie subsidiary aventron are launching the first major high-alpine solar project following the adoption of the Energy Act. The first part of the modern ‘SedrunSolar’ photovoltaic park is due to be connected to the grid by the end of 2025 and will supply 28 gigawatt hours of green electricity per year for around 6,500 households.
On 9 June 2024, the Swiss electorate voted by a majority of 69% in favour of a secure electricity supply from renewable energies. The decision paves the way for an accelerated expansion of electricity production from renewable energy sources. This will enable Switzerland to reduce itsCO2 footprint and reduce its dependence on electricity imports from abroad. Today, ‘energia alpina’ and ‘aventron’ have given the go-ahead for the first major high-alpine solar project to be realised following the adoption of the Energy Act.
The ‘SedrunSolar’ project in the Surselva region of Graubünden is being realised on an area of around 33 hectares in the Scharinas/Cuolm Val area at over 2,000 metres above sea level. The entire project development was carried out by energia alpina. It is planned that Primeo Energie, the main shareholder of aventron, as well as the shareholders ‘Energie Wasser Bern’ and ‘Stadtwerk Winterthur’ will purchase the green electricity from Sedrun in the long term. Primeo Energie will also provide the energy platform for the management and distribution of Alpine solar energy. In the autumn, energia alpina and aventron will establish a joint stock company to realise and operate the plant.
Cédric Christmann, CEO of Primeo Energie, emphasises: ‘The cooperation with “energia alpina” is impressive proof of how representatives of mountain regions and like-minded, large energy companies can realise pioneering projects to their mutual benefit. I am convinced that ‘SedrunSolar’ will serve as a model for other photovoltaic projects in the Swiss Alps.’
After the local population unanimously supported the project in August 2023 and the Graubünden cantonal government issued the building permit on 28 May 2024, construction work is set to begin next week. In order to keep to the tight schedule for the Solar Express, renovation work on the feeder road began at the start of the summer. By the end of 2025, 10% of the plant's output should be fed into the grid. The plant should then reach its full peak output of 19.3 megawatts by 2028. The project team will continue to work closely with authorities, environmental organisations and the local population in order to take all social and environmental aspects into account.
Alpine solar systems score with 4-5 times more energy in winter
A major advantage of alpine solar systems is that a solar module produces around 1.5 times more energy over the year than a comparable module in the lowlands. According to calculations by the Bern University of Applied Sciences, alpine solar modules generate around four to five times more energy than lowland modules, especially in winter, which means they help to cover the winter electricity shortfall. Test results show that ‘SedrunSolar’ produces around half of the electricity in winter. The almost 34,200 solar modules, distributed across 5,700 solar tables, are expected to provide valuable energy for around 6,500 households.
Ciril Deplazes, Managing Director of energia alpina, comments: ‘Thanks to our dedicated planning team and the great support of the municipality of Tujetsch and the local population, we have managed to keep to the ambitious schedule for the Solarexpress.’ Claudio Deplazes , Chairman of the Board of Directors , adds: ‘We are proud to be realising this ambitious project together with aventron and Primeo Energie. Our partnership combines energia alpina's expertise in the field of alpine energy technologies with aventron's extensive experience in the field of renewable energies. ’
Media contacts:
Primeo Energie
Fabian Hildbrand, direct dial: +41 61 415 48 28
Viktor Sammain, direct dial: +41 61 415 41 08
E-mail: presse@primeo-energie.ch
Energy Water Bern
E-Mail: Medien@ewb.ch
Stadtwerk Winterthur
E-mail: stadtwerk.medien@win.ch
About Primeo Energie
Founded in 1897, the Primeo Energie co-operative is headquartered in Münchenstein, Switzerland. With total assets of CHF 2.8 billion, it reliably supplies private and business customers in Switzerland and France with energy at over 220,000 metering points. Under the motto ‘We bundle energy’, the infrastructure company focuses on the decarbonisation of the energy supply and offers intelligent solutions in the areas of smart homes, sustainable mobility and energy efficiency. These are aimed at private and business customers, energy supply companies, cities and municipalities. With around 700 employees, Primeo Energie is active along the entire value chain, from production and procurement to trading, storage and sales. The company is also committed to imparting knowledge to children and young people and supports over 300 local projects and charitable events in its grid area every year.
About energia alpina
energia alpina has been an independent public-law institution of the municipality of Tujetsch since 1918. It is responsible for the municipal task of supplying energy and its purpose is the production, transmission, distribution and sale of electrical energy as well as the construction and maintenance of the necessary grid infrastructure and power plants. The company supplies around 2,200 households and commercial operations with electrical energy from mostly renewable energy sources.www.energia-alpina.ch
