Tokyo (SCCIJ) – Switzerland has taken a significant leap towards renewable energy with the inauguration of the country’s most powerful ground-mounted solar power plant in the canton of Neuchâtel. The solar park emphasizes Switzerland’s commitment to renewable energy.
Switzerland’s largest ground-mounted solar park which is located in the canton of Neuchâtel marks a pivotal point in the country’s energy transition journey (© Stemutz.com).
Big for Switzerland
Sprawling over an impressive 47,000 square meters, the equivalent of about five football pitches, the solar facility comprises 19,000 photovoltaic panels. It’s not just its sheer size that stands out, its potential output is groundbreaking. The facility’s production is equivalent to the energy consumption of around 2,000 households.
Varo Energy Group has commissioned the solar park with an installed capacity of 7.7 MW. The park can supply more than 60% of the electricity consumed by Switzerland’s only refinery, located in Cressier in the canton of Neuchâtel. This project contributes to the energy transition by producing of local, renewable, and sustainable electricity.
Built in partnership with Groupe E, it is located in an industrial zone east of the refinery. Inverters and transformers complement the installations which feed directly into the refinery’s medium-voltage grid, for a total investment of about 6.5 million francs.
Additionally, the facility has partnered with the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM) to test a new generation of solar panels, thus demonstrating its commitment to innovation. CSEM aims to study the pros and cons of different installation configurations and technologies. The objective is to boost electricity production while simultaneously reducing maintenance costs.
Significant milestone
Alongside the solar park’s launch, Groupe E also unveiled a district heating system. Eduard Geus, Managing Director of Varo Energy’s Cressier production center, explained that the system harnesses excess heat generated by the Cressier refinery activities to supply neighboring communities.
Highlighting the significance of these milestones, Jacques Mauron, General Manager of Groupe E, asserted, “Boosting local and renewable energy production sends a crucial message to Switzerland, emphasizing the urgent need to manage its energy future and reduce its reliance on energy imports.”
Albert Rösti, Federal Councillor for Energy and the Environment, who graced the inauguration, lauded the project as “exemplary.” He underscored that such ventures are imperative for the realization of the country’s 2050 energy strategy. Rösti said, “To meet all our energy needs, the focus should be on developing hydraulic and alpine solar energy.
Text: Pierre-Yves Oehrli/Greater Geneva Bern area (Editing by SCCIJ)
