Alpine solar plant for Central Switzerland being built in Spiringen
Aventron AG and energieUri AG have started construction of the first alpine solar plant in Central Switzerland. The photovoltaic plant in Spiringen will produce around 12.5 gigawatt hours of solar power per year from 2029. This year, 10 per cent of the plant is to be put into operation.
APV Sidenplangg AG, a partner plant of the Uri-based energy service provider energieUri AG from Altdorf and the green electricity producer aventron AG from Münchenstein BL, are building the first alpine solar plant in Central Switzerland, as detailed in a press release. The plant is located in the Sidenplangg area above the village of Spiringen in the Schächental valley in Uri.
The alpine photovoltaic plant covers an area of 10.7 hectares at an altitude of 1800 to 2000 metres above sea level. The energy is fed into the grid via an existing transformer station. The plant will have an output of 8 megawatts and will generate 12.5 gigawatt hours of renewable solar power per year from 2029. The investment costs amount to CHF 40 million, of which CHF 31 million will remain in the form of contracts for regional companies in the canton of Uri, according to the press release.
According to the press release, projects under the national Solar Express Initiative are essential for the security and independence of Switzerland’s electricity supply. Switzerland is particularly dependent on the expansion of its winter electricity production. The altitude and production profile make alpine solar plants such as the one in Spiringen particularly suitable for winter electricity production, as they generate three times as much electricity in the winter months as their counterparts in the lowlands.
“We are delighted to be realising the first alpine solar plant in Central Switzerland together with our partner energieUri. This project underlines the successful cooperation between the Central Plateau and the mountain cantons as well as the joint commitment to renewable Swiss energy production,” said Dominik Baier, Chairman of the Board of Directors of aventron AG.