Groundbreaking for the Calinis Energy Lighthouse Project - News - Rhiienergie AG

About the job

12.11.2019

The photovoltaic system Calinis in the former Felsberg quarry is becoming the largest PV system in the canton of Graubünden.

The photovoltaic system will produce an annual yield of 1,500,000 kWh of electricity for around 400 households. Markus Feltscher, Chairman of the Board of Rhiienergie AG, warmly welcomes the guests of today’s groundbreaking ceremony also on behalf of the Chairman of the Board of Calanda Solar AG, Mr Per Sandven: "This remarkable and sustainable lighthouse project fits perfectly with rhiienergie’s strategy. It will enable us to generate large amounts of renewable energy and help to make the rhiienergie supply area one of the first regions in Switzerland to become net CO2-free in the long term. A vision that is likely to become our mission." Besides this ambitious goal, the system fits excellently into the landscape and fills a quarry wasteland with a meaningful energy generation facility.

However, today’s groundbreaking would not have taken place without the majority shareholder of Calanda Solar AG, Per Sandven. Sandven has believed in the project from the start and was willing to share the development risk together with rhiienergie. From zoning planning to completion of the system, Fanzun AG was commissioned with development and planning. "What is special about this project, besides the size of the system, is the high preparatory effort. In a first step, the terrain design had to be created through elaborate and partly innovative contract and approval procedures. During this preparatory phase with many participants, the project was consistently met with a lot of goodwill," says Urs Simeon, the responsible project manager at Fanzun AG.

The newly created zone for solar energy systems lies entirely within the former demolition perimeter of the quarry. The embankment is not a landfill but a terrain modelled for solar use as part of material recycling. On a ground plan area of around 150 x 130 m, the embankment height reaches up to 50 m. The four slopes on which the photovoltaic modules are installed have an inclination of 30 degrees between the berms. The lowest slope is not economically viable due to the shadow cast by the tree avenue. The embankment material used (loose volume approx. 270,000 m3) mainly consists of excavation material from the new H1 building of the Cantonal Hospital Graubünden as well as additional excavation material from third parties in the nearby area. The installation conditions as well as the quality of the embankment material and the embankment work were continuously monitored to keep the settlement of the subsoil within a tolerable range. The photovoltaic system consists of several segments. Each segment consists of 24 photovoltaic modules fixed to a steel support structure. This assembly unit is pre-assembled on site and finally transported to the deployment site by helicopter. Photovoltaic modules with a total area of around 7,400 m2 and a nominal power of 1,500 kWp are installed on the slope surfaces. The inverters, transformer station and medium-voltage system are installed at the foot of the slope for easy accessibility. In conclusion, Urs Simeon states: "After various solar awards such as the 105% Plus Energy Hotel Muottas Muragl in Samedan, the double certification for the workshop and office rooms of Caotec in Brusio in 2017, as well as the unique solar project of the HCD training hall in 2019, this project fits seamlessly into our efforts to combine the highest possible functionality and economic efficiency with aesthetic architecture.".

After the rockslide in 2001, the Felsberg quarry was closed, after which the municipality of Felsberg sought design ideas for the use of the wasteland. In cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden (formerly HTW Chur), architecture students were commissioned to develop design ideas. The project "Energy instead of Wyy", inspired by the vineyard in Felsberg, won the internal school competition. The winning project was presented at a municipal assembly about 10 years ago. Urs Simeon, partner at Fanzun and current board member of Rhiienergie AG and Calanda Solar AG, found the concept exciting and forward-looking. He brought Per Sandven on board, who had made it his passion as an investor to invest in sustainable lighthouse projects with renewable energy. For example, he financed and implemented the large system in Muottas Muragl. After seven years of development work, during which the project was more than once close to being abandoned, and with the knowledge that the project can now definitely be realised, Per Sandven transferred the majority of shares of Calanda Solar AG to Rhiienergie AG. "With this step, it is ensured that the system is regionally supported and sustainably further developed. I have thus achieved my goal of contributing another step towards sustainable energy supply," explains Per Sandven. He remains a 20% minority shareholder of Calanda Solar AG and looks forward to advancing further projects.

"We are pleased that the citizens’ community of Felsberg, as part of the host municipality, is participating with 10% in Calanda Solar AG and we hope that all municipalities in our supply area will source their electricity directly from us under the motto ‘Electricity from the region’.", Christian Capaul concludes addressing the guests. Another step towards a CO2-free rhiienergie area.