Münchenstein BL – Aventron has joined forces with partners from the energy industry to form the ABCD-Horizon consortium. Together, they are equipping highway rest areas in western Switzerland with solar folding roofs from dhp Technology.
The electricity producer Aventron from Münchenstein, BG Ingenieure und Berater from Lausanne, Cargo sous terrain(CST) from Basel and dhp technology from Zizers GR have founded the consortium ABCD-Horizon to install photovoltaic systems along highways.
According to a media release, innovative photovoltaic systems are to generate electricity at 45 freeway rest areas “in French-speaking Switzerland and the cantons of Valais and Bern”. This is to flow primarily into the charging infrastructure along the highways. The total output of the turbines is stated to be up to 35 megawatts. The amount could supply about 7800 households with an average annual electricity consumption of 4500 kilowatt hours.
The impetus for solar power production on unused areas of freeway service stations and noise barriers came from the Federal Roads Office(FEDRO), according to the statement. In a national tender, dhb Technology’s Horizon folding solar roof was awarded the contract for all freeway service stations in the Romandie region and in the cantons of Valais and Bern, it says.
The energy generated is reportedly stored in existing charging stations and batteries. The buyers of the surplus electricity would be Aventron’s three main shareholders: Primeo Energie, Stadtwerke Winterthur and ewb, as well as CST, which also belongs to ABCD-Horizon.
According to the company, the Horizon solar folding roof is characterized by “an aesthetic lightweight construction with a rope-based support structure concept and a patented folding mechanism.” This allows wide distances between supports and great heights of up to 6 meters above the ground. It also has a weather algorithm so that energy can be generated even in winter. The construction phase is planned from 2024 to 2027. ce/heg
