Switzerland based oil refiner Varo Energy Group along with local electricity utility Groupe E will build what the duo call the largest ground mounted solar power plant to date for the country, with 7.7 MW capacity to support an on-site oil refinery.
The project site in Cressier industrial region will have more than 19,000 solar panels installed along with inverters and transformers, covering an area of around 45,000 m². Swiss technology research and development center CSEM will supply its modules to test a new generation of panels.
Around 8.4 GWh annual power generation by the plant will supply more than 60% of the refinery's electricity requirements. Varo expects the CHF 6.5 million ($7.1 million) facility to come online in November 2022. The solar power plant site will be accessible to wildlife and has been designed to protect birds and mammals.
"This project in Cressier is an important step in VARO's strategy to create sustainable energy options for its existing assets and to generate revenue value, " said Varo's Managing Director Dev Sanyal who was previously with bp (see New Chief For BP's Gas & Low Carbon Energy Business).