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The first reserve power plant with gas turbines is built in Birr (AG). Time is pressing, the construction work will start soon.
What is being created in Birr in Aargau is huge. An emergency power generator is being built here quickly, which is intended to bridge imminent power shortages in Switzerland this winter. Eight mobile turbines will generate 250 megawatts of electricity. This corresponds to around two thirds of the capacity of the decommissioned Mühleberg (BE) nuclear power plant.
On Friday, the Federal Office of Energy announced that the contracts with the supplier General Electric (GE) had been signed. The turbines will be installed on the premises of the supplier GE Gas Power in Birr (AG). Construction should start in just three weeks, confirmed the mayor of Birr, René Grütter, in an interview.
SRF News: René Grütter, the large reserve power plant will be in your village. Have you been presented with a fait accompli?
The power plant is a done deal, but we have been in direct contact with General Electric, the cantonal authorities and the federal government for weeks. So it comes as no surprise.
It comes as a surprise to the general public. The eight turbines can be operated not only with gas, but also with oil or hydrogen. Now build a big oil tank. In addition, apparently, but also a water tank. Why?
If they want to operate the system with oil, the operators apparently have to add water to change the consistency. A planning application was announced to us for the next two days.
Sure, it’s short term.
Preliminary talks were held with all representatives. Sure, it’s short term. Construction is scheduled to take place in three weeks. We don’t know exactly who the planning application came from. The future operator will not be General Electric, but the company is our contact at the moment.
Are there any objections – or will construction really take place in three weeks?
We will receive the planning application. Then it goes to the canton and on to Bern, to the federal government. It doesn’t follow traditional building codes. If you want to build in three weeks, a normal process is not possible.
The federal government is preparing an ordinance. Whether this is an emergency regulation is still being clarified. It would certainly be a possibility for the start of construction in early October. The process has three levels: municipality, canton and federal government.
So emergency law is needed?
That could theoretically be. If you want to start such an exercise in February, then you cannot question everyone at all levels as usual and carry out a consultation. It is an emergency power station, similar to an emergency power group in a hospital. The new power plant would not run for days, it would be for emergencies, to bridge the gap.
Stefan Ulrich conducted the interview.