Transformers for the largest Alpine solar plant in Switzerland
Sissach, Switzerland, May 2022 – The energy service providers, Axpo and Industrielle Werke Basel IWB, transformed the dam wall at Muttsee into a solar plant at an altitude of 2,500 meters above sea level. Two transformers manufactured by R&S Rauscher & Stoecklin are part of the plant’s energy installation. Getting them to the site required special helicopter transport.
Main technical data of the transformers:
- 2 pcs 1250 kVA Transformer
- including oil retention bag
- extra low weight
- earthquake safety installation
- transport of the Transformers with a Kamov helicopter
Some specifications of the project:
- biggest solar plant in the Alps
- 4,872 photovoltaic modules, 10,000 m²
- 2 MW power
- altitude 2,500 m.a.s.l.
The Muttsee dam has a length of 1054 meters, which makes it the longest structure of its kind in Switzerland. The dam is very well suited for a photovoltaic plant, thanks to its:
- orientation (faces south)
- altitude (during the winter months – there is much less fog and much more sun than in the Midlands)
- existing infrastructure
This unique installation site required special conditions of the transformers’ construction to be met. Both units had to be very light in order to be safely delivered by helicopter. Good weather conditions during transport were also necessary.
About Industrielle Werke Basel IWB
IWB is an energy, water, mobility and telecommunications company. It supplies its customers in the canton of Basel-Stadt (Switzerland) and is a leading service provider for renewable energy and energy efficiency. As an institution under public law, it works closely with the Department of Economic, Social and Environmental Affairs of the Canton of Basel-Stadt.
About Axpo
Axpo is Switzerland’s largest producer of renewable energy, as well as an international leader in energy trading and the marketing of solar and wind power. Its 5,000 employees combine experience and expertise with a passion for innovation. Axpo uses state-of-the-art technology to develop innovative energy solutions for its customers in 30 countries in Europe, North America and Asia.
About R&S Rauscher & Stoecklin
R&S Rauscher & Stoecklin is part of the Swiss-based R&S Group, a leading provider of electrical infrastructure products in key markets. The company, founded in 1919, is a well-established and experienced manufacturer of transformers, switchgear, and other electrical equipment.
