Vertical Solar Installations on Infrastructure in the Alpine Region Research Project Shows Potential And Limits in the Surselva

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With the "Solar Vertical" research project, the Graubünden University of Applied Sciences (Swiss) is investigating the potential of vertically aligned photovoltaic systems on existing infrastructure buildings in the Surselva region. The aim is to provide municipalities with a practical basis for decision-making in order to systematically identify suitable locations and implement solar systems in a targeted manner to boost winter electricity production in the Alpine region.

The reason for the investigation of vertically aligned photovoltaic systems on existing infrastructure buildings is the so-called winter electricity gap in Switzerland: while energy demand increases in winter, electricity production from photovoltaic systems decreases due to snow cover and reduced solar radiation. Alpine regions such as the Surselva, however, offer advantageous conditions as they are less affected by fog and snow slides off vertically installed systems more quickly. What is new about this project is the focus on infrastructure buildings that have often gone unnoticed until now. These are located neither in classic, untouched natural areas nor in already regulated building zones and hold a previously underutilized potential for energy generation. The Surselva Lab of the UAS Graubünden, together with the regional development of the Regiun Surselva, which is also an energy region, initiated a research project, which was implemented together with the Institute for Building in the Alpine Region of the UAS Graubünden.

Systematic Analysis of Infrastructures

As part of the project, a total of 563 infrastructure structures—including roads, retaining walls, bridges, galleries, tunnel portals and utility installations—were systematically recorded and analyzed, with students from the Bachelor of Architecture course also participating. After an initial filtering based on the number of hours of sunshine and orientation, 168 objects remained for in-depth investigation. These were then evaluated in terms of size, shading, location and technical suitability and, on this basis, an estimated energy potential of around 6.7 gigawatt hours was determined for the winter months (October to March) in the entire Surselva region.

Limitations Despite Great Theoretical Potential

The results show that although the theoretical potential appears high, actual implementation is limited by various factors. Many infrastructures are located in valleys and are shaded by surrounding mountain ranges. Systems in remote high-altitude locations often fail due to a lack of grid connections or are only economically viable for self-consumption. Further challenges arise from the vegetation, technical and economic feasibility, legal framework conditions and integration in terms of design. Despite these limitations, the project funded by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy shows that photovoltaic systems on alpine infrastructure buildings can make an important contribution to regional energy supply. Each individual system represents a further piece of the puzzle for the successful implementation of the federal government's Energy Strategy 2050.

Practical Support for Municipalities

Practice-oriented recommendations for action were developed to support the municipalities. These include criteria for finding potential sites, information on planning and approval procedures and options for integrating photovoltaics into existing infrastructures—both in additive and integral form. A key added value is the municipality-specific basis: "Solar Vertical" provides each municipality with a systematic overview of potential sites, which can also serve as a basis for decision-making in the future. However, as the legal, planning and technical framework conditions are constantly changing, a checklist is used to identify specific implementation options. For the first time, the municipalities of the Surselva thus have a well-founded and flexible decision-making tool at their disposal to make targeted, realistic and sustainable use of the potential of infrastructure buildings.