Two projects in the Bernese Jura
BKW is planning to expand wind power in Switzerland, with a focus on two projects in the Bernese Jura.
‘Jeanbrenin – Bises de Cortébert et Corgémont’
One BKW wind project in Switzerland is ‘Jeanbrenin – Bises de Cortébert et Corgémont’ in the Bernese Jura. This encompasses three wind turbines east of Switzerland’s current largest wind farm, JUVENT. The three turbines will produce more than 15 gigawatt hours of electricity each year and supply around 3,300 households in the region with renewable electricity.
The project was approved on 29 April 2022 by the principal authority of the canton of Bern (the Office of Local Authorities and Spatial Planning), with all objections dismissed. The two relevant local authorities of Cortébert and Corgémont each approved the project in June 2021 with more than 90% of the vote. The canton of Bern, the relevant federal authorities and the Swiss Foundation for Landscape Conservation all spoke out in favour of the ‘Jeanbrenin – Bises de Cortébert et Corgémont’ wind farm during the preliminary assessment.
While the Swiss Foundation for Landscape Protection and Management (SL-FP) supports the project and no other environmental and landscape protection associations have objected, owners of a remote house and holiday cottage have lodged an appeal against the approval of the canton of Berne (Office of Local Authorities and Spatial Planning).
The start of preparations for the construction of the three wind turbines at Les Bises de Cortébert and Corgémont will depend on the outcome of the appeal procedure before the Directorate of Justice of the canton of Berne (DIJ).
More information
‘Prés de la Montagne de Tramelan – Montbautier’
The ‘Prés de la Montagne de Tramelan – Montbautier’ project on the Montagne de Tramelan and in the Bernese Jura’s Saicourt municipality has passed every step of the approval process so far. The municipalities of Tramelan and Saicourt gave the nod to this wind farm project in March 2015, with a referendum in Tramelan on 8 March 2015 and a Communal Assembly vote in Saicourt on 9 March 2015. With the Bern administrative court dismissing objections to project approval in May 2021, all that’s left is a ruling by the Federal Supreme Court. The project can then enter the implementation phase.
With a total installed capacity of 12 to 14 megawatts, the six wind turbines will produce 24 to 28 gigawatt hours of renewable electricity every year. This is enough to supply between 5,300 and over 6,000 households, the equivalent of the annual [JA1] electricity consumption of Tramelan and Saicourt put together.
You can find further information (in French) at this page:
Tramelan and Saicourt municipalities
