REPOWER

Interest in Swiss Hydropower

The use of hydropower in the canton of Graubünden was also further developed in two other projects. Construction of the Taschinas power plant is proceeding according to schedule. The pressure duct was fully excavated, the pressure line constructed and the components in the machine room assembled in 2010. The power plant has an installed capacity of around 10 MW and will soon be ready for operation; it is scheduled to be connected to the grid in spring 2011. A public viewing day of the construction site held in the summer of 2010 attracted keen interest. Some 800 people visited the facility near Grüsch. Prättigau is also the site of another project: we are working on a concession project for the Chlus/Rhine power plant which will use the stretch of river between Küblis and the Rhine near Landquart with two power plant installations. An installed capacity of around 53 MW is planned. This is the largest Swiss power plant project currently underway apart from the projects for pumped storage power plants. As with our other projects, we are engaged in an intensive exchange of ideas with environmental organisations, the cantonal authorities and the municipalities concerned. Meetings have been held to familiarise the public with the project and information about the project was provided at municipal meetings. Response has generally been positive. The environmental impact assessment is currently in the works and will be completed in the summer of 2011.