High-Altitude Agrivoltaic Solar Plant In Switzerland

• Axpo plans to build another alpine solar plant in Switzerland, with 9 MW installed capacity 
• It will be located in the Municipality of Oberiberg on land owned by Genossame Schwyz 
• On completion of construction of the project on existing pastureland, the land should still be available for alpine farming  

Switzerland-based energy company Axpo Holding AG has announced plans to develop another alpine PV project as part of its solar offensive, this time with local energy company EWS AG. The 9 MW solar plant will be located in the Canton of Schwyz, around 1,600 m above sea level.   

The proposed project planned for the Swiss Municipality of Oberiberg will cover around 9 hectares of land on existing pastureland in Roggenegg area in collaboration with landowner Genossame Schwyz. Axpo said it should still be usable for alpine farming after the 9 MW Alpin Solar Ybrig project is constructed.  

Once commissioned, the 23,000 solar modules will generate 12 GWh/year to EWS through its existing distribution grid infrastructure.  

The plan is to start construction in autumn 2024 and initiate initial partial commissioning by 2025-end, to be followed by full commissioning in the following years. For now, Axpo says it awaits both the municipality and the landowner to vote on the plan.  

"I am delighted that, together with Axpo, we have found a suitable location in the region where, in close coordination with the landowner Genossame Schwyz, we will be able to play a key role in increasing the production of winter electricity in the future," said EWS CEO Peter Suter.   

As part of its solar offensive, Axpo aims to build more than 1.2 GW solar in Switzerland. The 9 MW project will expand its existing alpine solar portfolio that includes already operational 2.2 MW AlpinSolar project at the Muttsee Dam (see Europe PV News Snippets).   

The utility is also working on its 10 MW ground mounted NalpSolar project at the Nalps reservoir in the Canton of Grisons that's scheduled to come online in the spring of 2025. Another 10 MW solar project is planned in Disentis ski area to power mountain railway, also in the Canton of Grisons (see Solar Power For Swiss Ski Destination).  

Alpine solar projects in Switzerland are in the works by other companies as well, including the 12 MW project announced by electricity supplier Repower in the Klosters Municipality (see More Solar For Mountains In Switzerland).