4.1 Property, plant and equipment

CHF million

Land and buildings

Power plants

Transmission assets

Others 1

Assets under construction and prepayments

Right-of-use assets 2

Total

Net carrying amount at 1 January 2021

112

1,655

10

24

77

43

1,921

Investments

 

1

 

 

58

4

63

Own work capitalised

 

 

 

 

1

 

1

Reclassifications

5

76

– 4

1

– 78

 

 

Disposals

– 1

 

 

 

 

 

– 1

Depreciation

– 3

– 88

– 1

– 4

 

– 6

– 102

Impairment

 

– 8

 

 

 

 

– 8

Currency translation differences

 

– 13

 

 

 

– 2

– 15

Net carrying amount at 31 December 2021

113

1,623

5

21

58

39

1,859

Of which, cost value

176

4,917

36

37

62

66

5,294

Of which, accumulated depreciation

– 63

– 3,294

– 31

– 16

– 4

– 27

– 3,435

1 Includes machinery, equipment and vehicles as well as decommissioning and maintenance costs

2 For details, see note 3.6

CHF million

Land and buildings

Power plants

Transmission assets

Others 1

Assets under construction and prepayments

Right-of-use assets 2

Total

Net carrying amount at 1 January 2020

116

1,673

11

26

60

48

1,934

Acquisition / disposal of subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

– 4

 

– 4

Investments

 

 

 

1

50

2

53

Own work capitalised

 

 

 

 

1

 

1

Reclassifications

 

27

 

1

– 34

 

– 6

Depreciation

– 4

– 85

– 1

– 4

 

– 6

– 100

Impairment

 

– 22

 

 

 

– 1

– 23

Reversals of impairment

 

63

 

 

4

1

68

Currency translation differences

 

– 1

 

 

 

– 1

– 2

Net carrying amount at 31 December 2020

112

1,655

10

24

77

43

1,921

Of which, cost value

175

4,933

41

37

81

65

5,332

Of which, accumulated depreciation

– 63

– 3,278

– 31

– 13

– 4

– 22

– 3,411

1 Includes machinery, equipment and vehicles as well as decommissioning and maintenance costs

2 For details, see note 3.6

Impairment 2021

Impairment losses of CHF 8 million were recognised in 2021. Thereof, CHF 6 million was attributable to the Spanish gas-fired combined-cycle power plant Plana del Vent in the International business division. Impairment losses had to be recognised in the first half of 2021 due to delivery delays at the manufacturer in connection with additional repairs, the extended downtime until December 2021 as a result of this as well as a deterioration in earnings prospects. The recoverable amount was calculated using a pre-tax discount rate of 6.24 %.

Impairment and reversals of impairment in 2020

Impairment losses of CHF 23 million and reversals of impairment losses of CHF 68 million were recognised in 2020.

On 27 January 2020, Gestore dei Servizi Energetici GSE S.p.A. (GSE), which is responsible for implementing and monitoring incentive mechanisms and subsidies for the production of electricity from renewable energies in Italy, issued Società Agricola Solar Farm 4 S.r.l. (SASF 4) with the final report on its inspection, which started in July 2017 and ended in 2019. In this, GSE stated that, on the one hand, it identified deviations between the specifications named in the documentation to apply for feed-in tariffs and the evidence provided, and, on the other hand, that certain evidence was not available. The application to receive feed-in tariffs was made by the Moncada Energy Group before the solar plants were constructed. As the builder of the plants, it was also responsible for ensuring that the plants were built in compliance with the specifications and that the corresponding evidence could be provided. Alpiq acquired SASF 4 from the Moncada Energy Group S.r.l. in 2018. GSE deemed the deviations identified to be significant and therefore withdrew the right of SASF 4 to the feed-in tariffs it had already received and stipulated that SASF 4 loses the right to all future feed-in tariffs. Alpiq contested the decision by making use of the legal means of appeal at its disposal. On account of the potential reduction of the right to future feed-in tariffs, Alpiq recognised impairment losses on the solar plants concerned in the previous year and in the first half of 2020. In the previous year, it also posted a provision in other provisions for potential repayments of feed-in tariffs received. Following the submission of further evidence and various proceedings, at the end of 2020, GSE reversed the complete revocation of the right to feed-in tariffs ordered at the start of 2020 and, instead, stipulated a reduction of the feed-in tariffs originally awarded by 18 %. Alpiq therefore recognised a reversal of the impairment loss of CHF 12 million on the power plants and a reversal of the provision of CHF 9 million on SASF 4, which belongs to the International business division. The recoverable amount was calculated using a pre-tax discount rate of 7.54 %. Alpiq is also reviewing the legal steps against the Moncada Energy Group to protect itself from losses.

In the International business division, impairment losses had to be recognised on the wind farms of the Italian companies Alpiq Wind Italia S.r.l. and Enpower 2 S.r.l., on the solar plants of the Italian company Società Agricola Solar Farm 2 S.r.l. (SASF 2) and on the small-scale hydropower plants of Isento Wasserkraft AG. These came to CHF 17 million for the wind farms, CHF 2 million for the solar plants and CHF 2 million for the small-scale hydropower plants. The main reasons behind these impairment losses were feed-in tariffs that have expired or are due to expire in the coming years, forecasts of falling electricity prices and a higher discount rate. The recoverable amount was calculated using a pre-tax discount rate of 6.77 % for Alpiq Wind Italia, of 5.39 % for Enpower 2, of 6.20 % for SASF 2 and of 5.25 % for Isento Wasserkraft.

Alpiq recognised a reversal of the impairment loss of CHF 52 million on the thermal power plant San Severo in Italy, which belongs to the International business division. The profits generated and the future prospects demonstrated that the performance potential has increased for the long term. The recoverable amount was calculated using a pre-tax discount rate of 9.62 %.

In connection with the sale of the Swedish wind farm Tormoseröd, which belonged to the International business division, Alpiq recognised a reversal of the impairment loss of CHF 4 million. For more information about the sale, please refer to note 5.1.

Contractual obligations

At the reporting date, the Group had contractual commitments of CHF 59 million (previous year: CHF 29 million) for the construction and acquisition of property, plant and equipment.

Accounting policies

Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and any impairment losses. Obligations to restore land and sites after licence expiry or decommissioning are accounted for individually in accordance with the contract terms. Estimated restoration costs (including decommissioning costs) are included in the cost of acquisition and manufacture, and are recognised as a provision. Replacements and improvements are capitalised if they substantially extend the useful life, increase the capacity or substantially improve the quality of the property, plant or equipment.

Depreciation is applied to property, plant and equipment on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, or to the expiry date of power plant licences. Assets under construction and prepayments are not subject to depreciation until they are completed or in working condition and have been reclassified to the corresponding asset category; they are depreciated for the first time once they have been completed or have been brought to a working condition. The estimated useful lives of the various classes of assets range as follows:

The residual value and useful life of an asset are reviewed regularly, but at least at each financial year end, and adjusted where required. At every reporting date, a test is performed to determine whether there is any indication that items of property, plant and equipment are impaired. If there is any indication of impairment, the recoverable amount is determined for the asset. If the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its estimated recoverable amount, an impairment loss equivalent to the difference is recognised. An impairment loss previously recognised for an asset is reversed in the income statement if the impairment no longer exists, or has decreased. An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that the asset’s carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation, had no impairment loss been recognised.

The calculation of the useful life, residual value and recoverable amount involves estimates. The recoverable amount of an asset or cash-generating unit is the higher of its fair value less costs of disposal, and its value in use. Value in use is calculated by discounting the estimated future cash flows (discounted cash flow method). This is based on business plans as approved by management for the next three financial years as well as further influencing factors announced after the plans have been approved. These plans are based on historical empirical data as well as current market expectations and therefore contain significant estimation uncertainties and assumptions. These largely relate to wholesale prices on European forward markets and forecasts of medium- and long-term energy prices, foreign currencies (especially EUR / CHF and EUR / USD exchange rates), inflation rates, discount rates, regulatory conditions and investment activities relating to the company. The estimates made are reviewed periodically using external market data and analyses. To calculate the terminal values, the cash flows were inflated by a growth rate of 2.0 % (previous year: 2.0 %). This growth rate corresponds to the long-term average growth that Alpiq expects and represents a forecast. The discount rates that have been applied reflect the current market estimate for the specific risks to be allocated to the assets and represent a best estimate. Actual results can differ from these estimates, assumptions and forecasts, resulting in significant adjustments in subsequent periods. If the asset does not generate cash inflows that are independent of those from other assets, the recoverable amount of the individual asset is estimated for the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.