BKW Energie

BKW Energie AG (BKW, formerly known as Bernische Kraftwerke AG) is a power production and distribution utility with its headquarters in Berne, Switzerland. It also provides gas and heat through a number of subsidiaries or partner companies. It mainly operates in the canton of Berne, but is also present in Italy, Germany. and Austria.

BKW Energie AG
TypeAktiengesellschaft
SIX: BKW, BX:BKWN
ISINCH0130293662 
IndustryElectrical power
Founded1898
HeadquartersBerne, Switzerland
Key people
Urs Gasche (Chairman)
Suzanne Thoma (CEO)
ProductsProduction and distribution of electrical power.
Revenue2.81 billion CHF (2007)
2866.0 million CHF (2019)
245.2 million CHF (2007)
Number of employees
10000 (2019)
Websitewww.bkw.ch

History
Share of the Bernische Kraftwerke AG, issued 5. April 1909

BKW was founded in 1898 as Aktiengesellschaft Elektrizitätswerk Hagneck. The name was changed to Bernische Kraftwerke AG in 1909. In 1995, it changed to its present name. BKW FMB Energie AG, to emphasize the internationalization of the company's business plan.

It has been quoted on the Berne eXchange since 1969. As from 2003, it is also present at the Swiss Stock Exchange. Major shareholders are the Canton of Berne (52.54%) and the German power company E.ON Energie AG (20.99%, as of 2007).[1]

Power production

With a yearly energy sale of 24.2 TW·h the BKW is one of the biggest Swiss power utilities. Of this, 9.7 TW·h is produced by own plants or by shares in other facilities. As of 2007 the mix is mainly composed of nuclear (61.87%) and hydroelectric (37.96%) power. The remainder is produced by renewable sources like solar, wind, or biomass. Due to the necessity to diversify the mix and satisfy the increasing demand, BKW is introducing some fossil fuel power through shares in abroad plants.[1]

Fossil fuel power

In 2008 a new 800 MW combined cycle gas power plant started operation in Livorno Ferraris (province of Vercelli, Italy). BKW possesses a 25% share.

Hydroelectric power

BKW produces around 40% of its power through owned or shared hydroelectric plants in Switzerland and Italy.

The owned plants are mainly located in Berne Canton:[2]

  • Aarberg, Berne Canton: run-of-the-river, 15.2 MW installed load, owned plant.
  • Bannwil, Berne Canton: run-of-the-river, 28.5 MW installed load, owned plant.
  • Kallnach, Berne Canton: run-of-the-river, 8.3 MW installed load, owned plant.
  • Kandergrund, Berne Canton: run-of-the-river, 19.0 MW installed load, owned plant.
  • Mühleberg, Berne Canton: run-of-the-river, 44.6 MW installed load, owned plant.
  • Niederried, Berne Canton: run-of-the-river, 15.0 MW installed load, owned plant.
  • Spiez, Berne Canton: run-of-the-river, 18.7 MW installed load, owned plant.

Some of the group companies also produce hydroelectric power. The BKW portion of the installed production are:

  • EW Grindelwald AG, Berne Canton: 1.5 MW.
  • EWR Energie AG, Berne Canton: 6.5 MW.
  • Idroelettrica Lombarda Srl, provinces of Bergamo and Brescia (Italy): 41.8 MW.
  • Société des forces électriques de la Goule, Berne Canton: 7.5 MW.
  • Onyx Energie Mittelland, Berne Canton: 20.2 MW.
  • Simmentaler Kraftwerke AG, Berne Canton: 27.0 MW.

The rest is generated through holdings. The production portions of the BKW are:

Nuclear power

Around 60% of the energy produced comes from nuclear plants. BKW owns the Mühleberg Nuclear Power Plant and three shares in other Swiss or French facilities:

Solar Power

BKW possesses or shares an increasing number of solar plants of various size. The most important are:

  • Mont-Soleil, Berne Canton: 560 kW installed power, 17.8% output share.
  • Stade de Suisse, Berne Canton: 1300 kW installed power, owned plant.

Wind Power
JUVENT wind power plant

BKW produces wind power at two plants:

  • JUVENT Wind Power Plant, Berne Canton: 7.7 MW power output, 60% share.
  • Bockelwitz Wind Power Plant, Saxony (Germany): 15 MW power output, owned plant.[3]

Biomass power

Fossil fuel power
  • In 2008 started the construction of a new 800 MW coal power plant in the city of Wilhelmshaven (Lower Saxony, Germany). BKW takes part to the project with a 33% share (240 MW). It should start production in 2012.[5]
  • BKW is considering to build with other partners a 900 MW coal power plant in Dörpen (Lower Saxony, Germany).[6]
  • The Papierfabrik Utzenstorf AG and BKW are planning to build in Utzenstorf (canton of Berne, Switzerland) a combined cycle gas power plant. It should start operation in 2016 and deliver power, steam and heat.[7]
  • Irsina (province of Matera, Italy) has been chosen as possible location for a planned 400 MW combined cycle gas power plant.[1]

Hydroelectric power
  • In 2008, BKW started construction of a new run-of-the-river plant on the Alpbach torrent in Kandersteg (canton of Berne, Switzerland). The 2.6 MW installation should start production in 2009. BKW possesses a 60% share.[8]
  • BKW has an 80% share in a company that is building a new small hydroelectric plant in Wiler (canton of Wallis, Switzerland). The 1.4 MW station should start operation in 2010.[9]
  • Schattenhalb 3 is a new 10 MW hydroelectric power plant which construction started in 2008. It is located in Schattenhalb (canton of Berne, Switzerland) and is planned to start production in 2010. It will be operated by a subsidiary of BKW.[10]
  • BKW and the municipality of Tinizong-Rona (canton of Graubünden, Switzerland) will build a new 7.5 MW plant that will exploit the Errbach torrent.[11]

Nuclear power

In the 2020s, the Mühleberg Nuclear Power Plant will probably cease its activity and the contracts for importing nuclear energy from France will expire. BKW and Axpo founded Resun AG to prevent the consequent energy lack. Its purpose is to manage the administrative procedure for building two new nuclear plants up to 1600 MW each.

Transmission grid

BKW provides around one million people in 400 municipalities in Berne Canton and surroundings with power, through its local and distribution networks of up to 132 kV. It also owns 665 km of 220 kV and 56 km of 380 kV lines, although their operation is entrusted to the national transmission company Swissgrid AG.[12]

References
  1. Annual report 2007
  2. Statistics on the Swiss hydroelectric power plants Archived 2011-05-20 at the Wayback Machine, 2008 (in German)
  3. Acquisition of the Bockelwitz plant (press release, in German).
  4. Biomass plants in Italy Archived 2007-07-30 at Archive.today (press release, in German).
  5. Start of construction in Wilhelmshaven (press release, in German).
  6. Coal power plant in Dörpen press release, in German).
  7. "Web page of the planned combined cycle gas power plant in Utzenstorf". Archived from the original on 2009-04-14. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  8. Start of construction of the Alpbach plant (press release, in German).
  9. Start of construction of the Milibach plant Archived 2008-10-04 at the Wayback Machine (press release, in German).
  10. Authorization for Schattenhalb 3 (press release, in German).
  11. Agreement for the construction of a new plant in Tinizong-Rona (press release, in German).
  12. BKW Facts and Figures Archived 2009-06-24 at the Wayback Machine, 2007
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