Margarita Aleksieva tightens the fall protection harness and climbs into the wind turbine lift. A shaky ride takes her 90 meters into the air, up to the nacelle where the wind turbine’s rotor blades are attached. From there, BKW’s Head of Wind and Solar has a wonderful view over the Puglia plateau in southern Italy. The wind turbine is located in the Castellaneta wind farm. It produces electricity for 800 households – even in winter when the sun shines less often, even in southern Italy. “We need more wind turbines like this,” says Aleksieva. “They help us ensure security of supply with renewable winter electricity.”
At the other end of Europe, in the very north of Germany, Fynn Rösch proudly opens the front door of Germany’s tallest wooden building. He is a project manager at Assmann Beraten + Planen, BKW Engineering. Roots is located in Hamburg’s HafenCity district, a former port area now booming with new construction. Fynn Rösch and his team designed the supporting structure of the wooden high-rise and planned it down to the last screw. He is pleased that almost all of the apartments have already been sold. “Buyers particularly like the fact that a lot of CO2 has been saved thanks to all the wood,” he says. The construction of the wooden high-rise went quickly, safely and smoothly thanks to the high level of prefabrication of the wall and ceiling elements.
The wind turbine in southern Italy produces renewable electricity, while the wooden house in northern Germany consumes as little of it as possible. The two projects on the edges of Europe represent the beginning and end of the entire value chain in the new energy world. This value chain extends from the renewable production of energy to its trade, distribution and efficient use in infrastructures and buildings. BKW has also been committed to a climate-friendly energy future for more than 125 years. Founded in 1898 for the construction of the Hagneck hydropower plant on Lake Biel, BKW has the production and distribution of renewable electricity in its DNA.
BKW is now intensifying its focus on the new energy world. To this end, it launched the “Solutions 2030” strategy in November 2024 (see Strategy update on page 16). The company offers customers forward-looking solutions covering all aspects of the energy transition with the three business segments Energy Solutions, Power Grid and Infrastructure & Buildings. BKW aims to achieve significant growth with its strategy. By 2030, it will increase its EBIT to CHF 1 billion and invest around CHF 4 billion over the next six years, half of which will be in Switzerland.
One billion Swiss francs will be invested in the distribution grid of the future alone. Our goal is not only to generate electricity sustainably and use it efficiently, but also to transport it reliably from the wind turbine to the socket. More importantly, with the increasing number of rooftop solar installations, and the growing use of heat pumps in households and electric vehicles, BKW is adapting its electricity grid to the new requirements and expanding its distribution grid.
Project
BKW’s Castellaneta wind farm in southern Italy has an annual production of over 100 GWh.
The project is a prime example of the potential of wind energy, and BKW’s innovative strength and environmental responsibility.
Strategy
The wind farm fits perfectly into the portfolio of BKW Energy Production, which aims to grow profitably over the next few years with a technologically and geographically diversified portfolio.
Contribution
The Castellaneta wind farm is making a significant contribution to Europe’s sustainable energy supply.
«We need more wind turbines like this because they help us ensure security of supply with renewable winter electricity.»
Project
Assmann Beraten + Planen is significantly involved in the construction of Roots in Hamburg – Germany’s tallest wooden high-rise. The 65-meter-high building houses 128 condominiums and 54 subsidized apartments on 19 floors. The wood comes from certified coniferous forests, mostly from Styria in Austria.
Strategy
BKW Engineering assumes responsibility as architects and engineers for the built environment of our future.
Contribution
Compared to conventional construction methods, Roots saves a remarkable 31 percent CO2.
That corresponds to around 3,520 tons of climate-damaging greenhouse gas.
At Power Grid more and more specialists are needed to plan, expand and maintain the distribution grid. However, there are too few of these specialists in Switzerland. This is where BKW is taking countermeasures with its training initiative for powerline workers. Not only young graduates are given the chance to learn this profession – experienced specialists also have the opportunity to take a new direction. As career changers, they bring valuable skills and experience, and gain in-depth knowledge in a field that is of great societal importance through a second apprenticeship. Michael Brunner manages the BKW Energy Training Center in Kallnach in the Bernese Seeland, where apprentices complete an important part of their training. “We need committed employees who enjoy working outdoors as part of a team,” says Brunner. “Who can rely on each other at all times.”
The renewable production of sufficient electricity, its reliable supply to customers and the efficient use of energy in buildings and infrastructure: Is that enough for BKW to be prepared for the new energy world with its “Solutions 2030” strategy? Is that enough for BKW to be able to offer its customers forward-looking solutions for all aspects of the energy transition? Not quite.
BKW has two additional key competencies that are crucial for the new energy world. And it will continue to strengthen these competencies with the “Solutions 2030” strategy.
The first competence is somewhat technical: Wind turbines and solar panels do not always produce the same amount of electricity. In summer and during the day there tends to be too much electricity, while in winter and at night there tends to be too little. To compensate for this, BKW has long been using the dams in the Grimsel region, which produce electricity on demand. With the enlargement of the Grimsel dam and construction of Trift, BKW also has major expansion plans for hydropower, which is always available. Now a second flexible technology has been added: Large battery storage systems. In Arzberg in northern Bavaria, BKW and its partners are building one of the largest privately financed energy storage facilities in Europe on behalf of the Swiss investor MW Storage. When the sun shines and the wind blows, there is too much electricity in the grid: The battery charges. When the sun sets and the wind dies down, there is not enough electricity: The battery feeds energy into the grid. The project in Arzberg will not be the only one: BKW intends to use the experience gained there to implement its own battery projects in the future and grow strongly in the battery sector.
Powerline worker initiative
BKW Power Grid
Project
BKW is adapting its electricity grid to the new requirements and expanding its distribution grid. This requires more specialists. However, there are too few of these specialists in Switzerland. BKW has therefore created a program for career changers. People who have completed vocational training can pursue a shortened second apprenticeship at BKW to become certified powerline workers.
Strategy
The electrification of heating and mobility requires the conversion and expansion of the distribution grid. BKW needs the right specialists for this.
Contribution
A strong distribution grid is essential for decarbonizing our energy system and ensuring the success of the energy transition.
Lindt & Sprüngli
BKW Building Solutions
Project
Sigren handles the building automation for the expansion and modernization of Lindt & Sprüngli’s Cocoa Center in Olten. This includes nine control cabinets with programming capable of controlling over a hundred heating, ventilation and cooling systems.
Strategy
BKW Building Solutions combines the mission of actively shaping the energy transition with entrepreneurial passion and innovative strength.
Contribution
Modern building automation provides comprehensive options for optimizing technical systems to save energy and improve Lindt & Sprüngli’s environmental footprint.
Project
BKW Infra Services is working with other partners on one of the largest privately financed energy storage facilities in Europe. The battery will have an output of 100 MW and a storage capacity of 200 MWh. The site is located near Arzberg in northern Bavaria.
Strategy
The project shows that BKW Infra Services can cover the entire value chain in the future market of large-scale battery storage.
Contribution
The project is making a significant contribution to the energy transition in Europe. It helps integrate volatile energy production from the sun and wind into the electricity system and stabilize the electrical grids.
The second competence of central importance for the new energy world is electricity trading. Large companies need significant amounts of renewable energy to decarbonize their business activities – especially when their machines and computers are in operation. In this area, BKW offers customized, sustainable and long-term solutions: It takes the electricity from its own renewable power plants, purchases additional renewable energy from producers and supplies customers with exactly the amount of renewable electricity they need at any given moment. Prominent companies such as Deutsche Bahn and Nestlé already rely on tailored solutions from BKW, and other customers will follow in the coming years.
We now return to the Castellaneta wind farm in southern Italy and renewable electricity production. Margarita Aleksieva has taken the lift back down from the wind turbine and loosens the fall protection harness. “The view up there lets me feel the full power of nature and the immense potential of wind energy,” she says enthusiastically. The outlook is bright: Not only for BKW’s Head of Wind and Solar, but the entire company.
Schattenhalb solar test facility
BKW Energy Production
Project
In the municipality of Schattenhalb in the Bernese Oberland, BKW is planning the construction of an alpine solar plant that will supply 14 GWh of electricity per year, around half of which will be generated in winter. A test facility has already been built on site.
Strategy
BKW is strengthening renewable energy production in Switzerland and investing in Alpine PV systems in addition to wind and hydropower.
Contribution
With its Alpine solar projects, BKW is contributing to the expansion of low-emission winter electricity production and security of supply in Switzerland.
BKW Engineering
Project
Munich Airport is expanding its Terminal 1 with a state-of-the-art boarding gate so that it can meet the growing air traffic demands.
The interdisciplinary project team at Assmann Beraten + Planen is planning this major project.
Strategy
With 4,000 employees, BKW Engineering is the largest provider of integrated architectural and engineering services in the German-speaking world, and intends to continue growing in this area.
Contribution
The new building planned by Assmann Beraten + Planen features energy-efficient plant and system technology, providing passengers with significantly improved efficiency, service and comfort.
