The Behaviour of Large Solar Power Stations in the Swiss Alps

Summary

Electric utility acceptance of solar cell power stations as a reliable electricity generation alternative will require sufficient experience and know how to allow the technology to expand in Switzerland. This acceptance will require succesfull resolution of a number of key issues. Among the commonly well known problems related to solar electricity fed into the electrical grid, Switzerland is facing a somehow unique situation: for reason of land availability and higher solar insolation during the winter period, large solar power stations will have to be built in the higher regions of the swiss alps. The acceptance of solar electricity will therefore require the proof that large solar cell power plants are operational under the severe climatic conditions of the alps. The objective of the test presented in this paper is to investigate this problem. Both full size test with a field of solar cells and scale model tests had shown, that at least at the chosen site during the test period of last winter, snow and ice accumulation will only cause small losses of the potential overall energy output of a photovoltaic power station.