Axpo plans another alpine solar plant in Graubünden
The energy company Axpo wants to build an alpine solar plant in the Grisons town of Ilanz to generate 22 gigawatt hours of sustainable electricity annually. The plant will combine nature, leisure activities and energy generation in an exemplary way.
Axpo Holding AG is planning to build another alpine solar plant in the municipality of Ilanz in the canton of Graubünden. According to a media release, the project, called Ovra Solara Camplauns, will also become a prime example of how nature, leisure activities and energy production can be combined. Thus, the area will continue to be usable as pasture land after completion. There will continue to be a corridor for the Abahrtspiste from the Crap Masegn mountain station to Ladir. And hiking and biking routes should also be able to be used without restrictions.
On an area of about 200,000 square metres, the plant with a peak output of 15 megawatt peak is to produce about 22 gigawatt hours of sustainable electricity per year. This corresponds to the average electricity consumption of more than 4,700 households.
“The partnership with the municipality of Ilanz/Glion for the Ovra Solara Camplauns’project marks another important step in our solar offensive,” Oliver Hugi, Head Solar Switzerland at Axpo, is quoted as saying. Axpo plans to implement around 4,200 solar projects in the mountains and on the Swiss Plateau by 2030. Other Axpo Alpine solar projects include Alpin Solar Ybrig in the canton of Schwyz and the two Graubünden projects Ovra Solara Magriel at the Disentis ski resort and NalpSolar at the Nalps reservoir.
According to the statement, commune president Marcus Beer sees the realisation of the project as a unique opportunity to generate long-term income for the commune’s coffers and to contribute to sustainable electricity security in Switzerland. The population of Ilanz has been informed about the project at an information event and will vote on the project in the coming months. If the vote is in favour, Axpo will be able to start construction of the plant in spring 2025 and partially commission it at the end of 2025.