Ground-breaking ceremony for large-scale solar project
Axpo has broken ground for the construction of a solar plant in the municipality of Tujetsch. The solar power is to be fed into the SBB railway power grid. Axpo wants to gain valuable insights into solar energy in challenging locations.
The Baden-based energy service provider Axpo is building a solar power plant above Tujetsch, in the immediate vicinity of the Lai da Nalps reservoir. According to a press release, it will generate 11 gigawatt hours of solar power with an output of 8 megawatts per year from 2028.
At least 10 per cent of this should be connected to the grid by the end of 2025 in order to meet the requirements of the Solar Express. Further construction stages will be completed during the summer months of the following years, and the plant should reach its full production capacity in 2028. SBB will purchase the solar power for the railway power supply over a period of 20 years. This could cover the annual electricity needs of 2,000 households.
At the ground-breaking ceremony, the importance of the solar project for the energy transition was emphasised. “Energy production in winter is key for Switzerland – alpine solar plants like NalpSolar make an important contribution when demand is at its highest,” Antoine Millioud, Head of the Solar Division at Axpo, was quoted as saying. Axpo also expects NalpSolar to provide important insights into the technology and realisation of large-scale solar projects in challenging alpine locations.
Martin Cavegn, Mayor of Tujetsch, emphasised the potential of the plant for a sustainable energy future and value creation in the region. The location right next to the Nalps reservoir combines existing infrastructure with new climate-friendly technology. This brings advantages for local value creation and makes Switzerland’s electricity supply more secure.