Swiss renewable energy generator Axpo has received approval from relevant authorities to build the first large-scale alpine solar plant in Switzerland at the Muttsee dam.
The Canton of Glarus has approved the construction of the 2MW solar plant on the dam. The Glarus South municipality and the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) were also involved in the approval procedure and have approved the project as well. Axpo said it is now taking the next steps to enable the plant to be built and commissioned in summer 2021.
Due to new findings, the plant design will be slightly adapted from original designs. Over the past few months, Axpo has commissioned extensive research into wind and snow loads. A study by the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) concludes that high snow loads are to be expected in certain areas of the plant. In order to prevent damage to the solar modules in the long term, Axpo will be making slight adjustments to the solar plant. Axpo is also examining other variants of the substructure.
Over the next few weeks, Axpo's solar specialists will continue to work on the specific design of the plant. The application to include the plant in the SFOE's list of so-called lighthouse projects will be submitted as soon as this process has been completed.
Axpo will make the final decision on whether to build the plant during the course of the year.