BKW and aventron have commissioned the new Turbach hydroelectric power station in the municipality of Saanen. The plant harnesses the power of the Turbach stream and will generate around 7.3 gigawatt-hours of renewable electricity annually. With an investment of around 16 million Swiss francs, the two companies are sending a further signal in support of the expansion of domestic energy production.

Following a construction period of around two years, the Turbach hydroelectric power station is now operational. The plant utilises the natural gradient of the Turbach stream to generate electricity and has a capacity of 2.5 megawatts. The investment amounts to around 16 million Swiss francs. The project was carried out by Kraftwerk Turbach AG, in which BKW holds a 55 per cent stake and aventron a 45 per cent stake.

Local hydropower for the future of energy
Hydropower is a key pillar of Switzerland’s electricity supply. In view of rising electricity demand and the challenges to security of supply, the expansion of domestic electricity generation is becoming increasingly important. The Turbach hydropower station demonstrates how regional resources can be utilised in the long term through the collaboration of two energy companies.

“Every additional kilowatt-hour from renewable sources counts for Switzerland’s energy future. With the Turbach power station, we are creating additional long-term generation capacity. This is a concrete contribution to our strategic goals and to strengthening the domestic electricity supply,” says Margarita Aleksieva, Executive Vice President Energy Production at BKW.

For aventron, too, the commissioning marks an important milestone. “With the Turbach hydroelectric power station, we have realised a challenging project together with BKW. It demonstrates how important long-term partnerships and the use of regional resources are for the expansion of renewable energy,” says Eric Wagner, CEO of aventron.

A new power station for the region 
Construction work began in the summer of 2024. Thanks to the excellent cooperation between all parties involved, the challenging construction of the penstock, as well as the completion of the water intake and the central building, were finished on schedule. Particular attention was also paid to watercourse protection. This included ensuring a sufficient residual flow and the ecological enhancement of aquatic habitats along the Turbachbach stream. These measures were implemented in close collaboration with the local weir association and the cantonal authorities and specialist departments.

On Saturday, 31 October 2026, the hydroelectric power station will open its doors to the public. Anyone interested can explore the facility up close and learn how electricity is generated from the power of water.