Swiss Referendum Rejects Alpine Solar Power Project

A canton in Switzerland held a referendum on installing a large-scale solar power facility in the Alpine region, which was rejected by the residents.

The Rhone Glacier in the Valais region of the Swiss Alps.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 11th (local time), according to the canton of Valais, the referendum on whether to proceed with the construction of the solar power plant planned by the cantonal government in the area resulted in 53.94% voting against it, exceeding half. The voter turnout was 35.72%.

This referendum result attracted attention as it is expected to significantly influence public opinion surrounding Switzerland's renewable energy strengthening policies.

Switzerland, where the share of renewable energy generation such as hydropower already reaches 80%, has set a goal to achieve net zero (zero carbon net emissions) by 2050 and decided to further strengthen the renewable energy sector.

The Swiss federal government’s general plan is to increase the share of solar power generation, which currently accounts for about 11% of electricity production.

Valais is considered the region with the highest solar radiation in the Alpine area. With expectations that the project would be highly viable, the cantonal government has been promoting plans to establish a large-scale solar power facility in line with the federal government’s energy policy.

However, with the confirmation through yesterday’s referendum that the majority of residents oppose the project, it is interpreted that the cantonal government’s momentum to push the project forward has significantly declined.

Even if the power facility construction plan was rejected by the referendum, private operators can still pursue solar power projects, but it will be difficult to receive federal subsidies that can cover up to 60% of the project costs. This creates a business environment that is challenging for private companies to easily advance the project.

The referendum result is seen as a reflection of public opinion leaning toward the views of environmental groups and some political parties such as the Green Party, which point out the problems of establishing solar facilities in the Alps. Opponents argue that the project damages the natural environment of the Alps and that its economic feasibility falls short of expectations.

The Valais branch of the Swiss People’s Party, which has opposed the construction of solar power facilities in the Alps, welcomed the referendum result, commenting, "Valais already supplies a lot of electricity to the country through hydropower dams," and added, "It would harm us if foreign companies and their affiliates damage the Alps to make profits."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.