en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Swiss canton of Graubünden has recently launched an application process for photovoltaic projects on retaining walls. The Cantonal Technical Office is inviting municipalities, energy suppliers, and other institutional entities to design, finance, construct, and operate these facilities.

The initiative stems from the "Mazzetta motion," adopted by the Grand Council in December 2024, which calls for a "solar offensive" on cantonal road infrastructure, systematically assessing and utilizing the solar potential of retaining walls and other suitable surfaces. The 50 selected retaining walls were chosen based on criteria including installation scale potential, structural characteristics, geometry and available area, operational conditions such as winter maintenance, orientation and azimuth, and distance to the grid connection point. Selected participants will be responsible for planning, financing, construction, grid connection, operation, maintenance, and final decommissioning throughout the entire project lifecycle.

The application process consists of six phases: expression of interest, site inspection, application submission, site allocation, right-of-use grant, and building permit. The deadline for the first round of expressions of interest is August 31, 2026, with site inspections expected to take place from mid-September to late October 2026. Graubünden notes that this process is not a public procurement contract; authorized participants will be granted exclusive rights to use portions of public infrastructure for solar power generation, but no public functions will be transferred, nor will economic compensation be provided by the canton.

Meanwhile, the Cantonal Technical Office will continue to directly install photovoltaic systems at locations where they are cost-effective and where the electricity can be consumed on-site, to meet the power needs of cantonal road infrastructure. This measure aligns with the current industry trend of deploying photovoltaics on existing infrastructure to reduce land use and increase local renewable energy generation.

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