Swiss energy storage device

How does electricity storage work in Switzerland?

Electricity storage is not separately defined in the Swiss legislative framework. The biggest obstacle for electricity companies is to obtain a construction permit and a concession for the operation of a pumped storage plant, which is granted for a maximum of 80 years.

Which energy storage projects have been commissioned in Switzerland?

Axpo commissioned its BESS in February this year while utility Thurplus commissioned a 3MW system in September last year. But Switzerland was the location for one of the largest energy storage projects commissioned in recent years, a 20GWh pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) unit which started operations in June 2022 in the Canton of Valais.

Does Switzerland have a storage system?

The concept might sound new but has been in use in Switzerland for centuries. The U.S. has also been using this method for nearly a century now, while China recently decided to build 270 GW of storage capacity by 2025 .

Can a water battery help stabilize the energy grid in Switzerland?

The water battery that recently went operational in Switzerland has a storage capacity of 20 million kWh, the equivalent of 400,000 electric cars, and is aimed at helping stabilize the energy grid in Switzerland and other connected grids in Europe. The plant has six turbines that can generate 900 MW of power, Euronews revealed.

How much does a 900 MW water battery cost in Switzerland?

A 900 MW ‘water battery’ that cost Switzerland €2 billion and was under construction for 14 years, is now operational, Euronews reported. The battery is located nearly 2,000 feet (600 m) underground in the Swiss Alps. Nant de Drance : Comment ça marche ?

Is MW storage the country's largest battery storage project?

MW Storage is a developer of BESS projects which is also active in the German market, with a 100MW/200MWh project underway that it claimed is the country’s largest. The inauguration ceremony for the BESS project. Image: EWS AG. EWS AG and MW Storage have expanded a battery storage project in Switzerland to 28MW, making it the country's largest.