“Switzerland’s Solar Offensive Contrasts with Bavaria’s Alpine Plan for Renewable Energy”

Ten years ago, Renato Jordan had the idea of ​​using the alpine sun to generate energy via Gondo. He is the landowner of the affected area. Gondosolar has recently become just one of dozens of projects. With a so-called “solar offensive”, the Swiss parliament held out the prospect of billions in subsidies last fall. The state wants to bear up to 60 percent of the investment costs in large-scale photovoltaic systems. With its 100,000 square meters, Gondosolar is even comparatively small. In the mountain village of Grengiols – also in the canton of Valais – a 3.4 square kilometer solar park is planned, i.e. an area the size of 476 football pitches full of solar modules.

Alpenplan prevents surface damage in Bavaria’s high mountains

While there is a real gold rush mood in Switzerland because of the state funding, the Bavarian State Ministry for Housing, Construction and Transport refers to the Bavarian Alpine plan at the request of the BR. It divides the Alpine region in Bavaria into three zones – A, B and C. This is how development on the mountain is regulated. In protection zone C in particular, construction work is taboo.

For example, the ski area connection planned years ago on the Riedberger Horn in the Allgäu Alps would have run through this area – the project was canceled after nature conservation associations and the public had exerted great pressure. Because of the Alpine plan, Bavaria’s summit regions should remain free of open-space PV systems. Because, as the Ministry justifies, these areas are usually of great importance for nature and the landscape. And that’s why it always has to be checked first what effects a photovoltaic ground-mounted system has on nature and the landscape.