Consortium to set up solar systems along highways in Switzerland

ABCD-Horizon, a consortium of four Swiss companies, is planning to build 45 solar photovoltaic (PV) installations with a combined capacity of up to 35 MW along highways in the Alpine country.

The solar systems will be set up at rest areas in the Romandy region, as well as the cantons of Valais and Bern.

The consortium consists of renewable energy company Aventron, BG Ingenieure und Berater, logistics company Cargo sous terrain and dhp technology, Aventron said on Tuesday.

The solar installations will utilise dhp technology's solar folding roof -- a lightweight construction with a rope-based supporting structure and a folding mechanism which allows wide distances between supports and a great height above the ground.

Work on the PV installations is expected to commence in 2024 and should be completed by 2027. BG Ingenieure und Berater will be in charge of overall project management and planning of the solar plants.

The electricity generated by the solar roofs will primarily be used for the charging infrastructure along the highways -- either flowing into existing charging stations at the rest areas or being stored in batteries on-site.

Excess electricity will be fed into the grid and sold to Aventron's three major shareholders -- Primeo Energie, Stadtwerke Winterthur and ewb.

Cargo sous terrain will be a long-term offtaker of power to support the creation of a renewable energy-powered logistics system in Switzerland.

The initiative will be realised as part of a programme launched by the Swiss Federal Roads Office (ASTRA) last year. The authority offered companies like Aventron 15 lots that include 350 noise barriers and 100 rest areas to build renewable energy production facilities. The necessary land is provided by the government free of charge.

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