Socio-political and technical perspectives of Alpine PV Implementation
EDGE Webinar on Alpine PV Systems: Technical, Social and Grid Perspectives
On 19 January 2026, the SWEET EDGE consortium hosted a webinar on Alpine photovoltaic systems (Alpine PV). The event brought together over 50 research and industry experts to explore how solar installations in high-mountain environments can contribute to energy security and winter electricity supply in Switzerland.
The webinar examined Alpine PV from three complementary perspectives: technical research, socio-political analysis and industry implementation. The session was moderated by Prof. Christof Bucher (Bern University of Applied Sciences) and featured presentations by Prof. Michael Lehning (EPFL / WSL), Prof. Isabelle Stadelmann-Steffen (University of Bern) and Andreas Hügli (REECH AG / ZENDRA AG).
Alpine PV and the winter electricity gap
The debate around alpine solar installations is closely linked to Switzerland’s winter electricity deficit. Energy system modelling suggests that a future Swiss energy system could generate around 45 TWh of electricity from wind and solar power, provided hydropower is optimally integrated.
Alpine PV plays a special role because high-altitude sites receive stronger winter solar radiation, while snow cover can increase energy production through albedo effects.
Technical research insights
Prof. Michael Lehning (EPFL / WSL) presented recent research on alpine PV performance. Field measurements show that bifacial solar modules can generate around 20–25% higher yields in alpine environments, particularly in spring months when snow cover increases reflected radiation.
Research is also advancing in areas such as snow-panel interactions, solar radiation modelling and high-resolution solar resource mapping based on satellite and ground-station data.
Socio-political acceptance
Technological feasibility alone is not sufficient for project success. Prof. Isabelle Stadelmann-Steffen (University of Bern) analysed voting outcomes for more than 40 alpine solar projects and highlighted the importance of local participation and transparent decision-making processes.
Projects tend to receive higher public support when municipalities or local energy providers are involved in ownership or development.
Industry perspective: planning and construction
From an industry perspective, Andreas Hügli (REECH AG / ZENDRA AG) discussed the practical challenges of planning and constructing alpine solar installations. These projects require complex logistics, specialised engineering solutions and careful management of environmental and safety constraints.
Hügli emphasised that standardisation, digital planning tools and industrial learning processes are essential to reduce costs and scale up Alpine PV deployment.
Key takeaways
The webinar highlighted that Alpine PV systems can play a crucial role in strengthening Switzerland’s winter electricity supply. However, their successful deployment depends on a combination of factors:
- continued technological innovation
- appropriate regulatory frameworks
- strong local involvement and social acceptance
- industrial standardisation and project scaling
Through its webinar series, SWEET EDGE aims to connect research, industry and policy discussions to support the Swiss energy transition.
Webinar Recording
You can watch the full webinar on our YouTube channel -> Click here <-