Setback for Solar-Express: Vispertal solar energy project is being adjusted

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The feasibility study shows that the original concept created at the office table needs to be modified, Diego Pfammatter, deputy director of the EnAlpin company, confirmed in a report in the “Sonntagszeitung” on Monday. The purpose of the study is to demonstrate the effective potential of the project.

Three solar parks in the Mattmark, Mäsweide-Rieberg and Mattwald areas are currently being pursued. Field research had shown that the installation of solar modules at the other locations studied would not make sense due to natural hazards such as avalanches, stone chips, stone falls, but also topography, the environment or poor accessibility.

Connection to the electricity grid problematic

Pfamatter declined to comment on information such as the number of solar panels planned and the output of the downsized power plant. According to the concept study, originally 800,000 solar panels on six different fields should supply 1.44 terawatt hours of electricity. The “Sonntagszeitung” reported that the project had been reduced by half – a figure that Pfammatter would not confirm.

Another challenge is the connection to the electricity grid, says Pfamatter. This was not the case with the project in its original form.

Sites for photovoltaic systems without sufficient grid connection must be developed first. This means not only the line to photovoltaic systems, but usually also the expansion of the upstream grid, including transformers and transmission grid lines.

The Swiss transmission network already shows structural bottlenecks, says Swissgrid spokesman Jan Schenk when asked. This situation will be exacerbated by the construction of new power plants.

Grid connection needs up to 15 years

In Wallis, which sees itself as a pioneer in the solar offensive, several large solar energy projects are on the agenda in the coming years. However, compared to Graubünden, another mountain canton, the expansion of the transmission network is less advanced. The existing transmission grid in western Switzerland has only one 380 kilovolt connection

According to Swissgrid, however, this should not be an obstacle to the planned solar power plants in Valais. It must be clarified on a case-by-case basis whether and how a grid connection can be realized for a new power plant, says Schenk.

It is important that the grid connection is clarified as early as possible in new projects. Even strengthening an existing line takes at least six years. Grid connection projects that would have to go through a federal sectoral planning process take at least 15 years to plan, approve and build.

For the current solar parks, EnApin has submitted applications for grid connection to the national grid operator Swissgrid, according to Pfamatter. These are currently under review and feedback is expected in August. (SDA)

Source:Blick