Media Release
9 September 2016
Festive inauguration of the Muttsee dam
Axpo is one important step further along with the Limmern pumped storage plant (PSP).
Today, 9 September 2016, the newly constructed Muttsee dam was christened in a festive ceremony. With its 1054 metres, the dam is the longest in Switzerland. Located at approximately 2500
metres above sea level, it is the highest dam in Europe. The new Muttsee dam is a key element of
the new Limmern pumped storage plant. Together with the Canton of Glarus, Axpo has invested
CHF 2.1 million in this highly flexible plant. With a pumping and turbine capacity of 1000 MW, the
Limmern PSP will make an important contribution to the security of supply in Switzerland.
At the inauguration ceremony on the Muttenalp, the new dam was festively christened by the Glarner
minister Josef Kohler with political representatives from the Canton of Glarus in attendance. Axpo CEO
Andrew Walo was visibly proud that the project was realised on schedule and on budget, and thanked
employees and the partner companies for „their tremendous achievement“. Walo also expressed special
thanks to the Canton of Glarus for the generous, continuous support of the project.
The Limmern pumped storage plant is a „once-in-a-century achievement for Axpo. It’s been 26 years
since we inaugurated the last dam in Switzerland at the Panix Lake,“ said Andrew Walo. The Limmern
PSP is also special owing to the fact that the project was achieved without any opposition: „For us this is
proof that is possible to develop good solutions together with residents and environmental
organisations if one engages in a true dialogue.“
The Chief Magistrate of the Canton of Glarus, Rolf Widmer, congratulated Axpo on behalf of the Glarus
cantonal government. He praised the collaboration between the builders and the public authorities, which
remained as exemplary during the construction phase as it was during the planning phase. „The Linthal
2015 project has received wide approval as a model for farsighted planning, taking into account the
interests of all stakeholders such as environmental organisations,” said Rolf Widmer. It is the merit of
many parties that enabled this spectacular construction project to be realised „so quickly and in such
good quality“.
Construction of the superlative
With 1054 metres, the dam is the longest in Switzerland. Located at approximately 2500 metres above
sea level, it is the highest in Europe. It would be possible to build 2200 single-family homes with the
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concrete used for the construction, and the full reservoir volume of 23 million m could fill 9200 Olympic
swimming pools.
A total of more than 3000 workers from numerous engineering, construction, subcontracting and specialty
companies were active in the mountains, underground or in the valley at Tierfehd. Some 6000 plans were
drawn up for the machine and transformer caverns, and the quality assurance reports for the hydraulic
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steel works fill 870 binders.
A trump card for Axpo in the long term
The decision to build the Limmern PSP was made during a time when the power price was high and the
revenue outlook for these types of power plants with peak energy was optimistic. When the Axpo Board
of Directors approved the project in 2009, security of supply was a key motive – and it remains so today,
but under completely different market conditions. Hence, it will be difficult to cover the full costs of the
plant during the first years of operation. However, the 80-year investment horizon for pumped storage
plants is very long term. Axpo is convinced that in the long run it has a trump card in hand with this highly
flexible plant that can switch from turbining to pumping in a matter of minutes.
The strong growth of volatile wind and solar energy increasingly results in instabilities in the grid. Therefore, controllable capacity (control energy) in Switzerland and Europe will gain in value. Axpo will offer
CO2-free grid and capacity reserves on the markets for control energy and ancillary services. Furthermore, the power will be sold on the options and spot markets (intraday market, where highly flexible
plants like Limmern are in demand in view of price fluctuations in quarter-hour intervals dictated by the
market.
All machine groups in operation by mid-2017
When the plug is pulled in a symbolic act, the Muttsee will once again be completely drained from now
until mid-September. When the reservoir is empty, the second pressure tunnel will be connected to the
works water system and filled with water for the first time during the next reservoir filling. This is a prerequisite for the commissioning of machine groups 3 and 4. Machine groups 1 and 2 have already been
successfully synchronised with the grid and will be generating electricity by the end of 2016. Machine
groups 3 and 4 are expected to go into operation in mid-2017.
You will find graphics and photos (within the next hour) to download on our website
Facts and Figures:
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CHF 2.1 billion were invested by Krafwerke Linth-Limmern AG, in which Axpo holds an 85 %
interest and the Canton of Glarus a 15 % interest
An approximately 10-year period of construction and planning/ground-breaking in 2009
Four reversible pump turbines with a turbine and pumping capacity of 250 MW each
Four rotors weighing 330 tons each were assembled by Alstom in the machine cavern because they could not be transported from the factory to the mountain
Transformers, each weighing about 220 tons, are the heaviest parts that were transported to
the mountain
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The transport facilities (funicular, construction cableways 1 and 2) moved 3.5 million tons of
material up and down the mountain, and transported approximately 1.4 million passengers
Additional information
Axpo Holding AG | Corporate Communications
Media Hotline: 0800 44 11 00 (Switzerland) | T +41 56 200 41 10 (International)
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About Axpo
The Axpo Group produces, trades and distributes energy reliably in Switzerland and in over
30 countries throughout Europe. Around 4500 employees combine the expertise from 100 years of
climate-friendly power production with innovative strength for a sustainable energy future. Axpo is an
international leader in energy trading and in the development of tailor-made energy solutions for its
customers.