Energy Limited development potential for hydropower in the canton of Fribourg
The canton of Fribourg only has limited potential when it comes to further increasing electricity production from hydropower, for example with pumped storage plants. This is the conclusion of a study written in response to a postulate from the Grand Council.
05.09.2024, 15:11
SDA
"The result is no surprise," admitted Olivier Curty (center), Director of Economic Affairs, to the media on Thursday. Among other things, the study examined the pumped storage potential and the possibility of increasing the height of dams in the canton of Fribourg.
According to the study, the pumped storage potential in the canton of Fribourg is "very limited, not to say non-existent" due to the strong fluctuations in the water levels of the lakes and the geological conditions. Increasing the height of existing dams would pose spatial planning problems and possibly have an impact on the environment.
Against this background, the State Council does not consider the development of pumped storage plants or the raising of dams in the canton of Fribourg to be a priority.
Detour power plant with the greatest potential
Around 30 power plant projects were examined as part of the study. The State Council identified the greatest development potential in the Schiffenen-Murten detour power plant. This would have an annual net feed-in of 103 GWh, 49 GWh of which would be generated in winter. It also provides for the renaturation of the Saane below the Schiffenen dam.
According to the study, the detour power plant could help the canton achieve its target of producing 800 gigawatt hours (GWh) of hydropower per year by 2035.
The Schiffenen-Murten detour power plant project envisages a tunnel around nine kilometers long between Lake Schiffenen and Murten. A power plant is to be built near Courgevaux, where the water will be turbined at a higher head than before.
Hydropower plays a major role in electricity generation in the canton of Fribourg. Around 76 percent of local electricity is generated from this source. There is potential for development, including the renovation of existing plants and the construction of new small power stations.
