In the coming years, Switzerland plans to install 4,200 solar power harvesting plants in the lowland and mountainous regions of the country.
Interesting Engineering writes that AlpinSolar has successfully completed the installation of 5,000 solar panels lining a dam in the Mutsee reservoir in the Swiss mountains. The dam is located 2.5 km above sea level and is considered the highest dam in Europe. Solar power generation has already started.
According to engineers, the combination of the dam’s solar panels and hydroelectric power station will generate more than 3.3 megawatts in total, enough to power 700 homes in the nearby canton of Glarus.
The solar panels are 1 km wide and the array is designed to generate 2.2 MW of electricity. The solar panels manufactured by Swiss Megasol are equipped with 40 mm frames and can withstand the dense snow cover typical of the Swiss Alps.
Installing solar panels on cold mountains may seem counterintuitive to some, but experts say solar panels perform best in cold climates and bright sunlight. They effectively collect sunlight, but do not overheat from the sun’s heat. Also, snow will reflect the rays directly onto the solar panels, further increasing their efficiency.
It is planned to establish 4,200 more solar power plants to collect solar energy in the coming years. Switzerland has amended its Energy Law to speed up construction permits for new solar power plants in the country.
Previously Focus He wrote that the EU actively supports alternative energy projects in which they will completely release Russian gas.
Source: Focus
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