Construction starts on first large-scale solar park in Swiss Alps

Switzerland wants to develop large solar farms in high-mountain regions to generate lots of extra renewable power, especially in winter. The first major project under the federal government’s “Solar Express” scheme is being built near the village of Sedrun in southeast Switzerland. Amid concerns over the climate crisis and energy supplies, two years ago the Swiss parliament approved legislation to simplify and speed up the construction of large solar parks in high-mountain areas. The federal law lowers the hurdles for construction – including strict environmental regulations – and offers generous subsidies (60% of project costs). But operators must be start feeding electricity into the grid from the end of 2025 in order to secure the vital state funding. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Following the legal change, around 50 large-scale projects have been presented so far. But a third have reportedly been abandoned, often due to local opposition, delays ...