The Wallis super solar system is only half the size of what was expected

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Those responsible want to fly more than 900,000 solar panels to the Valais Saflischtal using transport cable cars and helicopters. There, at 2500 meters above sea level, the largest contiguous solar system in the Alps must be built as soon as possible. On Wednesday, the municipality of Grengiols and the energy suppliers Energie Brig-Aletsch-Goms and Forces Motrices Valaisannes provided information about the project called “Grengiols-Solar”.

Thousands of modules should produce 600 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity annually, of which about 42 percent in winter when energy is scarce. Those responsible calculated this at the press conference. The 600 GWh should cover the electricity needs of about 200,000 households.

According to the mayor of Grengiols, Armin Zeiter, the plans have caused a furor in the Netherlands. He also received questions about the project from there. Now it’s a matter of planning ahead.

system reduced

The idea of ​​the mega project came from the pen of former SP chairman Peter Bodenmann (70). Electricity for 400,000 households was mentioned in a first project idea. In recent months, those responsible have analyzed the area and set up a test facility.

The project is now smaller: those responsible spoke on Wednesday about an area of ​​3.4 square kilometers on which solar panels will be installed. The solar park is smaller because you don’t want to build on an avalanche slope, says project leader Raoul Albrecht.

Critics complain that the solar power plant in the Alps destroys nature, is too expensive and of little use to the local population. The Greens in Valais have already announced the referendum. If there are enough signatures, a vote will be held in the autumn.

Parliament wants more electricity from the mountains

Even in parliament in Bern there is no consensus on whether the project is a blessing or a curse. The green Valais councilor Christophe Clivaz (54) is against the mega project that is to be built in the middle of “beautiful nature”.

Central National Councilor Philipp Matthias Bregy (44) from Naters judges differently. He thinks the idea makes sense: “We need to set up solar systems where there’s a lot of sun, and Wallis has a lot of them.” According to those responsible, the project is even located in an area with about 1500 hours of sunshine per year.

Fearing an energy shortage, parliament very quickly approved an urgent federal law in the autumn, which in principle wants to allow large power plants like this one with a minimum annual production of 20 GWh.

Cows graze under solar panels

It is now up to the local authorities to convince the local voters. Mayor Zeiter hopes for extra tax revenue and extra jobs. Various environmental organizations want to examine the results of the feasibility study on Wednesday afternoon and then explain their further plans.

In the coming weeks, the question of what the system means for the Alp that is now being built on must also be addressed. According to the press release, the solar system is being designed to allow cows to graze between and under the modules. However, there are still a few questions to be clarified with the three families who farm the alpine pasture in the Saflischtal. In addition, they want to supervise the project with environmental monitoring, says project leader Albrecht.

Source:Blick