A floating solar park planned in Bourg-Saint-Pierre

The first part of a future large-scale solar park floating in the alpine environment is born in Bourg-Saint-Pierre (VS). After six years of work to verify the feasibility of such a construction, Romande Energie on Wednesday lifted the veil on its world premiere.

This project, which started on Lake des Toules (1810 meters above sea level), started in 2013. After six years of study thanks to the installation of a 60 m2 pilot structure near the lake, the demonstration prototype is now in use. It will be used to check the technical and financial feasibility of the park.

If the results were to meet expectations, the park itself would then gradually see the light of day. 'We want to facilitate and accelerate the energy revolution in Switzerland with this world premiere', summarizes Pierre-Alain Urech, CEO of Romande Energie

Bifacial panels

Floating structures in aluminum alloy and high density polyethylene, as well as photovoltaic panels were recently assembled before the entire structure was slid on the water. This facility, costing 2.35 million Swiss francs, consists of a carpet of 36 floats which, lashed to the bottom of the lake by means of weights, rise and fall at the same time as the level. of water.

These 2240 m2 of bifacial solar panels will produce more than 800,000 kWh per year, equivalent to the annual consumption of about 220 households. If the results are favorable, more than 22 million kWh could eventually be produced each year. This represents the consumption of some 6,100 households.

Improved efficiency

According to several studies, this new installation should produce up to 50% more energy than a park of the same size located in plain. This result can be explained, among other things, by the strong reflection of the light on the snow, which increases the efficiency of the solar panels. On the other hand, the installation will have to face extreme conditions due to altitude.

Romande Energie forecasts temperatures down to -30 degrees, winds up to 120 km / h, and a lake ice thickness of 60 centimeters. The structure will be able to support a height of 50 centimeters of snow.

/ ATS