The Swiss government has signed a contract for a third back-up gas power plant to be operational from September.
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The Confederation has signed a new contract for a reserve power plant, which will be made available from winter 2022/2023.
This is the existing Thermatel thermal power plant of CIMO Compagnie Industrielle de Monthey SA (VS), with a capacity of up to 50 megawatts (MW).
Thus, a total power of around 336 MW could be made available this winter via the reserve power stations.
The Federal Council is strengthening Switzerland's energy supply through various measures. In addition to the hydraulic power reserve, reserve power plants are also part of it. In mid-August 2022, the Federal Council gave its consent for corresponding contract negotiations.
At the beginning of September 2022, the first contract was signed with GE Gas Power for a temporary reserve power plant in Birr (AG) with a capacity of approximately 250 MW.
It will be available from the end of February/March 2023 until April 2026 to inject reserve current into the network if needed.
In December 2022, the Confederation signed a contract with the existing thermal power plant Cornaux 1 in Cornaux (NE) managed by Groupe E, a French-speaking energy supply company.
This reserve power plant with a capacity of up to 36 MW will be available until spring 2026.
The third reserve plant under contract until spring 2026 is the Thermatel gas-fired combined cycle plant of CIMO Compagnie Industrielle de Monthey SA, which runs on natural gas. It currently provides a power of about 40 MW.
After the planned overhaul of the steam turbine, it will reach approximately 50 MW from September 2023. Over the duration of the contract planned from February 15, 2023 to April 30, 2026, the provision costs amount to approximately 21.5 million francs in terms of fixed costs.
The plant will only operate in an emergency. The call will be made by Swissgrid, as for the hydraulic power reserve. The amount of variable costs, for example for the acquisition, transport and storage of fuel or the acquisition of CO2 emission rights,
Since the beginning of the discussions, the local and cantonal authorities have been kept informed by the Confederation and by CIMO. The Thermatel plant has all the required operating permits. ■