[ush]

Hi. The most important step is permitting as it's a highly regulated industry. The rest is easier. Every jurisdiction has its own rules for permitting. Some govs want to push it more and make it easy (like Spain used to do it). Some don't need solar plants (like Switzerland). I heard Maryland in US is pushing it. I was planning to visit Maryland ministry of energy to learn more actually.

[dbrgn]

Why do you think Switzerland doesn't need solar plants? We're still in the middle of an energy crisis: While we have more than enough energy in spring and summer (lots of hydroelectric power plants), we don't have enough storage capacity to make it through winter with renewables alone. And plans to make an energy deal with the EU have failed so far.

Alpine solar power plants are a huge deal right now, and cause a lot of discussions. They provide big benefits over solar on rooftops in the valley, because they are usually above the fogline and provide better efficiency during winter.

This is the first alpine solar power plant that's fully operational since August: https://www.axpo.com/ch/en/about-us/energy-knowledge.detail.... It's mounted on a dam and thus had less issues with permissions (as it's mounted on an already existing structure with existing power infrastructure).

Here's an English article about two big planned projects in Gondo and Grengiols: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/mountaintop-solar-farms-spark-t...

[ush]

I had really wanted to setup a utility scale solar power plant in Switzerland and did some research and could not find a way to do it nor en example of it (except rooftop solar panels which is common). Switzerland is already energy independent (60% of electricity generation is hydro, 34% is nuclear). This is a great mix comparing to fossil sources in many countries. And mostly explains low inflation in the country I think.

[panick21_]

For 20+ years I have wish we literally had just build one more nuclear plant, we could easily have done this and would be fine and independent by now. But sadly we have to investigate all these ideas instead of just going with a solution we know works and is literally just a matter of spending the money to solve the problem.

Relaying on EU is just a terrible idea.

I'm not necessarily against some things like these solar on a dam, but I wish we just look at the problem, picked a solution, took on the debt needed and comprehensively solved it in one project.