New solar plant boosts renewable energy production in the Alpine region
The government of Graubünden has approved the construction of the Alpin Parsenn large-scale photovoltaic plant in Davos. This means that the municipal utility alliance Swisspower can now begin construction of the 14-hectare plant at an altitude of 2,500 meters in the Parsenn ski area.
Swisspower AG has received approval from the canton of Graubünden for the construction of the Alpin Parsenn large-scale photovoltaic plant. According to a government press release, the decision is subject to conditions, although these are not specified.
Swisspower AG is acting as the overall project manager. It represents Energie Wasser Bern(ewb), Industrielle Werke Basel(IWB) and Elektrizitätswerk Davos AG(EWD).
The project, which until recently ran under the name Parsenn Solar, was approved by the Davos electorate on December 17, 2023. According to its press release from November 2024, Swisspower expected to receive the cantonal building permit before the end of last year; the ongoing work was fully geared towards the start of construction in summer 2025.
According to the cantonal government, the solar plant will be built at an altitude of 2,500 meters in the Parsenn ski area, which already has an infrastructure and covers an area of almost 14 hectares. With 1493 module tables, it will produce around 12.1 gigawatt hours of electricity per year. In the earlier announcement, there was still talk of more than 10 gigawatt hours, which will supply around 2,200 four-person households in future. Logistical access will be provided via existing access roads. The use of helicopters and walking excavators for minimally invasive installation is also planned.
Swisspower, based in Zurich, was founded in 2000 as a joint venture between Swiss municipal and public utilities that supply their areas with electricity, natural gas, heat and drinking water. The alliance is supported by 22 shareholder partners from all over Switzerland.