Large-scale solar park to be built at Bern Airport

Swiss power utility BKW AG and Flughafen Bern AG plan to build a solar park on the site of the Bern Airport that will produce up to 35 GWh of electricity per year to supply the airport and the region.

The solar panels will be installed on an area of ​​around 25 hectares (61.78 acres) in the undeveloped perimeter of the grass runways, BKW said on Friday.

About 30% of the facility's output or more than 10 GWh will be generated in the winter to ensure the security of supply in Switzerland.

The investment costs of the project are estimated at around CHF 30 million (USD 32.27m/EUR 29.84m).

After the feasibility study for the Belpmoos Solar project has been completed, the scheme is entering the planning and approval phase. The operator of the airport, Flughafen Bern AG, and BKW are confident that the procedures will be carried out quickly. Initial talks with the authorities in the city of Bern have already been held and they have signalled support for the plan.

In principle, Bern supports the project as it is in line with the sustainability goals of the city and the Municipal Fund for Land and Housing Policy, said municipal councilor and president of the Municipal Fund for Land and Housing Policy Michael Aebersold. As the landowner, the city will play a constructive role in the work on the project, Aebersold added.

The canton of Bern has a great interest in the expansion of renewable energy and the solar project at Bern Airport is a win-win situation because the legal zoning conditions are also favourable, said government councilor Evi Allemann, head of the Directorate for Interior Affairs and Justice.

(CHF 1 = USD 1.076/EUR 0.995)

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