The Romande Energie companyExternal link unveiled the first part of its floating solar project in Bourg-Saint-Pierre on Wednesday after six years of exploratory work.
The installation consists of 2,240 square metres of solar panels sitting on a 36-part aluminium and polyethylene frame anchored to the bed of the mountain lake. The frame can rise and fall according to the water level and can support up to 50cm of snow.
As the lake – an artificial dammed construction – sits at 1,810 metres above sea level, extreme weather conditions, including the freezing of the lake itself, are to be expected.
However, the stronger UV rays and reflections from the surrounding snow mean that the panels can produce up to 50% more energy than a similar installation on low-lying land.
In their current test phase the panels are expected to produce enough annual energy to power 220 average households. If the project is deemed to be feasible after a two-year trial period, the park will be enlarged to produce power for some 6,100 households.
Train line between Brig and Domodossola interrupted
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One day after a derailment approximately 15 kilometres from the Swiss border, BLS is running buses for passengers between Preglia and Domodossola, in Italy.
Swiss football boss wants crackdown on individual hooligans
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The head of the Swiss Football League says he prefers a harsher approach to individual hooligans rather than collective punishment measures affecting all fans.
Amherd: Council of Europe is ‘as urgently needed as ever’
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The Swiss government emphasised on Sunday the vital role of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, 75 years after it was founded.
Swiss minister: Italy will back Switzerland in EU talks
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Bern can count on the backing of Italy as it re-enters talks with the European Union on future relations, Viola Amherd says.
Student protestors at University of Lausanne continue pro-Palestine sit-in
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Since Thursday, a hall on campus has been occupied by students calling for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions and a ceasefire in Gaza.
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Swiss public broadcasters RTS and SRF are drastically reducing their communications via the social network X (formerly Twitter).
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Swiss electricity getting greener
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Switzerland’s energy consumption is getting greener, with 68% of it coming from renewable sources in 2017, compared with 62% the previous year.
Alpine solar panels could address Swiss energy gap
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New findings from the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) and Lausanne’s Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) suggest that alpine photovoltaic (PV) systems can provide a home-grown means of replacing a significant amount of lost power – particularly in winter. This is because mountains often poke above low-lying fog and panels at high…
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.