Swiss utility BKW unveils plan to build 70 MW of PV farms in the Alps

Swiss electric utility BKW AG on Tuesday unveiled plans to install six solar photovoltaic (PV) parks totalling 70 MW in the alpine region of Berne, at the heat of Switzerland.

Three of the projects,Adelboden Schwandfal, MontSol and Schattenhalb Tschingel Ost, have received municipal approval, while another one, Schattenhalb Tschingel West, will be presented to the community for voting next spring 2024.

All projects are eligible to apply for funding under the Swiss Energy Act. When installed, the PV capacity will generate close to 100 GWh of electricity annually, equal to the power consumption of over 20,000 hour-person households.

The schemes will be implemented under the so-called Solar Express initiative, giving them access to expedited approval procedures.

Bern-based BKW seeks to raise its renewable generation capacity to over 1 GW by 2026 with a focus on wind and solar plants in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Norway and Sweden.