Renewable energy source (RES) assets

(GRI 3-3)

Alpiq has a diverse national and international power generation portfolio from renewable resources, which comprise hydropower, wind and photovoltaics (see Figure 3). Our services in many European countries also support large and industrial customers in selling electricity from RES assets or in their efforts to sustainably reduce the environmental footprint of their own business activities.

Figure 3: Alpiqʼs power generation from renewable energy sources in 2023

Alpiq is increasingly focusing on renewable grid-scale flexibility and storage projects, as these are complementary to the growing production of RES assets, which are intermittent. Thus, flexibility assets have a significant positive impact on the speed of decarbonisation of the overall energy system and support the energy transition objectives. In addition, Alpiq continues to push for the development of local renewable energy in Switzerland in line with the Confederationʼs 2050 energy targets.

As part of a continuous improvement process, Alpiq systematically identifies the environmental impacts of our asset management activities and then sets objectives and concrete actions to control and reduce them.

Milestones

In 2023, Alpiq continued developing its diverse portfolio of facilities for power generation and energy storage from RES across Switzerland and Europe. This included the following projects and initiatives:

Hydropower

• Opening of the Gabi power station for optimised hydroelectric production
• First full year of production for the Nant de Drance pumped storage plant
• Four winter storage hydropower projects included in the Valais master plan
• Drilling confirms ideal location of the Gornerli multi-purpose project
• Recommissioning of the Grande Dixence hydropower plant

Wind

• Commissioning of the Tormoseröd wind farm in south-west Sweden
• Nine wind energy turbines planned within the Bel Coster wind farm

Photovoltaics

• Construction of the ‘Quijote’ photovoltaic project in Spain (to be finalised by 2024)
• Submission of application for permit for Gondosolar photovoltaic project
• Approx. 3 MW of photovoltaics installed in industrial rooftops in the Canton of Fribourg

Hydrogen

• Construction launched for 10 MW green hydrogen production plant in Freienbach
• Completion of feasibility studies for two H2 projects in the Valais
• Launch H2 Laguna project to produce green hydrogen near Venice
• Project launched for two hydrogen ecosystems in Spain

Numbers

• 1.6 GW–current third-party renewable portfolio of Alpiq Spain (AEE)
• 323 tons of green H2 sold to HRS (Hydrogen Refuelling Stations) in Switzerland by Hydrospider, a joint venture by Alpiq, H2 Energy and Linde
• 2,378 tons of CO₂ emissions from heavy duty trucks avoided in Switzerland thanks to H2 trucks refilling at the HRS
• 6,644 GWh of hydropower electricity delivered in 2023, due to storage shifts and above average natural inflows
• 900 GWh of additional winter energy potentially available from the four winter storage hydropower projects in the Valais in which Alpiq is involved

Statement

Frameworks/Standards

Paris Climate Agreement, ISO14001, Environmental Management System (EMAS)

Success stories

Alpiq heavily involved in Hydropower Round Table

Alpiq is involved in 4 of the 15 Hydropower Round Table projects to increase winter storage by 2 TWh by 2040. These projects include the Gornerli multifunctional dam, which will not only contribute 650 GWh in additional winter storage and increase production by 200 GWh per year but will also strengthen flood protection for the village of Zermatt.

Alpiq developing three alpine PV systems in Valais

Alpine photovoltaic systems have a significantly higher energy yield per installed capacity than systems in the lower midland of Switzerland. The three projects “GondoSolar”, “Prafleuri” and “Grimentz Grands Plans Solar” are expected to feed over 50 GWh per year into the grid on completion, including over 20 GWh in winter.

Green hydrogen ecosystem for the Veneto region

In May, Alpiq, San Marco Petroli and Sinloc jointly launched the project “H2 Laguna” to develop a green hydrogen ecosystem for the Veneto region of Italy. The project aims to supply hydrogen for regional transport companies and thereby save around 14,000 tons of CO₂ per year.
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Switzerlandʼs largest green hydrogen production facility created

Alpiq, SOCAR Energy Switzerland, CIME Capital and EW Höfe jointly founded Hydrogen Höfe Freienbach AG to build the hydrogen production plant in Freienbach, Schwyz. With a production of up to 1,200 tonnes in the final stage, this will be the largest green hydrogen plant in Switzerland and means that emissions of around 14,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year can be avoided.
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Commissioning of Tormoseröd wind farm in south-west Sweden

Alpiq and the Swiss company FuGen jointly own the Tormoseröd wind farm in south-west Sweden, which was commissioned in the third quarter of 2023. The expected electricity production of the 11 wind turbines, which have a total capacity of 72.6 MW, is around 220 GWh per year
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Gabi power station officially opened – for optimised hydroelectric production

In September, Energie Electrique du Simplon (EES) officially opened the Gabi hydroelectric power station in Simplon, Switzerland. EES completed the refurbishment of the power station in the spring. As a result, the plantʼs average annual production capacity will increase by around 15% to reach 44 GWh.
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Large increase in availability of Ramacca wind farm

The turbines at the 69 MW Ramacca wind farm in Italy were plagued by design issues and spare parts shortages, with the original manufacturer no longer on the market. By bringing operations, maintenance and engineering in-house, Alpiq has been able to resolve recurring issues more easily and the farmʼs availability and production increased significantly in 2023.