Basel/Hasliberg BE – The Basel-based energy supplier IWB is planning an alpine photovoltaic plant in the ski area of Meiringen-Hasliberg. It will provide renewable, domestic electricity for about 4500 households.
The Basel-based energy supplier IWB (Industrielle Werke Basel) is planning an alpine photovoltaic (PV) plant on Käserstatt in the ski resort of Meiringen-Hasliberg in the northeast of the canton of Bern. According to a media release, the installation will be realized together with local partners and will supply about 17 gigawatt hours of electricity for about 4500 households.
In addition to a lot of sunshine, the location has other advantages, the IWB release says. It has a powerful grid connection, he said, and a mountain restaurant that is no longer in use could house transformers and rectifiers. There is already an access road that can be used to bring materials and construction equipment close to the project perimeter. He said the region is an ideal location for the large-scale alpine photovoltaic plants that have been federally funded since the fall of 2022.
“With an alpine PV plant in the Hasliberg realized together with local partners, we are making a concrete contribution to the energy transition. The proximity of the site to the tourist facilities results in many advantages during construction and operation,” Stefan Wittwer, Head of Procurement Portfolio at IWB, is quoted as saying.
The projected facility harbors several synergy opportunities. At the same time, the mountain railroads will expand their snow-making facilities, and farmers will receive additional livestock watering facilities. Agricultural use will continue. In addition, landowners and site municipalities benefit from user fees and tax levies.
The project perimeter Käserstatt lies above the timberline between 1900 and 2100 meters above sea level. The use of pristine landscapes would be avoided. In addition, there is an efficient underground grid connection, which was renewed a few years ago, and which can be used to transport the electricity produced. ce/gba
