The Power of Water: Understanding Hydropower Plants

Hydropower is key for renewable energy. It forms the foundation of Swiss electricity. This source produces reliable, CO2-free power.

Three Types of Hydropower

We use run-of-river, storage, and pumped storage plants. These plants offer great flexibility. Swiss engineering history features this technology. We constantly improve our plants. This ensures efficient water resource use.

Storage power plants hold huge amounts of energy. They generate electricity when demand is highest. We call this peak and balancing energy. This energy keeps the electricity grid stable.

Pumped storage plants are also essential. Wind and solar power production often fluctuates. These plants compensate for grid changes. They balance electricity generation and use. This stabilizes the power supply in Switzerland.

Run-of-River and Ecosystems

Run-of-river plants sit mainly along the Aare river. They produce continuous electricity from the river’s flow. We carefully watch how operations affect nature. Our eco-fund supports biodiversity projects. We have completed over 300 successful measures.

We operate about 30 small hydropower plants. These plants support local economies. They respect regional ecosystems. They produce domestic renewable electricity.

Future-Proofing the Grid

Switzerland needs a secure winter electricity supply. We are participating in major expansion projects. We are building new dams or raising existing ones. We invest constantly in maintenance. This keeps facilities modern and safe. For example, the Winznau weir requires refurbishment. This work ensures seismic safety and compliance.

Protecting the environment matters greatly. We strive for a cleaner future. Visit our Shop Our Products to support sustainable living. You can also learn more about energy solutions on our site. Read Our Blog today.

Reference: Inspired by content from https://www.alpiq.com/energy/assets/hydropower.