Spiringen, 2 July 2025 – In Spiringen, in the canton of Uri, construction of Central Switzerland’s first alpine solar installation has officially begun. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on 2 July 2025 to mark this milestone, attended by representatives of the partner companies, the Uri cantonal government and the municipal council. Construction began in April in the Sidenplangg area, above the village of Spiringen in the Schächental valley (UR).

The project is being developed by APV Sidenplangg AG, a company founded in early 2025 as a joint venture between energieUri AG, the local energy provider, and aventron, a Swiss renewable energy producer. This pioneering and technically complex project breaks new ground in alpine solar power – an area in which there is currently limited operational experience. aventron's shareholders include Primeo Energie, Energie Wasser Bern, and the municipal utilities of Winterthur.

A milestone for energy production in Central Switzerland

At the ceremony, Uri government councillor Hermann Epp emphasised the national relevance of the project:

"Switzerland urgently needs to expand its winter energy production. The innovative APV Sidenplangg project will make a major contribution to this, with nearly 50% of its output generated in the winter months."

Thanks to their high-altitude location and unique production profile, alpine solar power plants are particularly well suited for winter energy generation, producing up to three times more electricity than lowland installations during the winter season. Projects like Sidenplangg are also key components of the Swiss federal “Solar Express” initiative, helping to strengthen the long-term security and independence of the country’s energy supply.

Dominik Baier, Chairman of the Board at aventron AG, noted:

"We’re proud to be realising the first alpine solar plant in Central Switzerland together with our partner energieUri. This project highlights the strong collaboration between the Swiss Plateau and mountain regions – and our shared commitment to renewable energy made in Switzerland."

An optimal location in Uri’s alpine Schächental valley

The solar installation will be built at an altitude of 1,800 to 2,000 metres above sea level, covering an area of approximately 10.7 hectares. The site is already used for avalanche protection infrastructure and is accessible via an existing road. A nearby transformer station enables seamless grid connection, making the location ideal in both technical and logistical terms.

The plant will have a capacity of 8 megawatts and is expected to generate around 12.5 gigawatt hours of renewable solar power per year from 2029 – enough to supply electricity to around 2,600 average Swiss households. The investment totals around CHF 40 million, with approximately 75% of that – CHF 31 million – staying within the canton of Uri as local contracts and added regional value.

Werner Jauch, Chairman of the Board of APV Sidenplangg AG and CEO of energieUri AG, commented:

"This visionary project not only delivers valuable winter electricity, but also provides tangible economic benefits to the region."

energieUri is responsible for project planning, implementation, operation and energy management. In line with the national Solar Express targets, at least 10% of the plant will be connected to the grid by the end of 2025. Full commissioning is scheduled for 2029.