Through its expansion of new renewable energies, SBB is making a major contribution towards Switzerland’s climate protection, the Confederation’s Energy Strategy 2050 and strengthening Switzerland’s security of supply.
By 2040, SBB aims to produce 160 gigawatt hours a year from photovoltaic systems installed on its buildings and sites. SBB will achieve an initial milestone of 100 gigawatt hours a year by 2030. For the production of 160 gigawatt hours, over 1,100 photovoltaic systems will be installed, mainly on railway station buildings, industrial sites, service facilities, platform area roofs, power plants and open spaces. 160 gigawatt hours can supply power for around 40,000 households.
While the roofs of buildings are generally well suited, the installation of photovoltaic systems near to rail facilities is complex and challenging due to technical safety requirements. That’s why this kind of project takes several years and authorisation from FOT is required in accordance with the Railways Act. From the planning to the installation of a photovoltaic system, it generally takes over three years.
The former SBB workshop is developing from an industrial facility into an attractive location for commercial and industrial innovation companies and start-ups, as well as a place for culture.
The 10,000m2 roof area of the central building Q has already been fitted with photovoltaic systems and other buildings which are suitable for solar power generation from a structural point of view and in terms of their orientation will follow. When completed, around 300 parties will be using locally produced electricity on site.
The system size for building Q is 265kWp (kilowatt peak)
When completed, the system will produce some 405,000kWh of solar electricity per year, which corresponds to the needs of around 95 households.
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Building Q at Werkstadt Zurich has been fitted with photovoltaic systems.
The 3Johann building in Basel sets new standards throughout Switzerland in terms of sustainability and energy consumption. 3Johann is built from wood, has an award-winning heating and cooling system as well as a photovoltaic system on the roof, whose electricity is used directly by tenants for their own needs.
The system size in real estate PV reporting is 50kWp (kilowatt peak).
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The 3Johann building is sustainable, aesthetically pleasing, future-orientated and made of wood.
The photovoltaic systems are distributed across various parts of the building and have a total output of 161,000kWh. This results in annual solar electricity production levels of around 150,000kWh, which corresponds to the needs of around 35 households. Further buildings are still being constructed and fitted with photovoltaics.
