Environmental Impact Report for the Fideris Hydropower Facility

SN Energie AG and the municipality of Fideris are planning to install a run-of-the-river hydropower facility to use the water in the drainage basin of the Ariesch Stream to produce electricity. The plan for the Fideris Hydropower Facility calls for an installed capacity of 5.6 MW. The project will involve capturing the water in the mountain stream in Laflina and channelling it in an approximately 4.5 km penstock to the main station in Strahlegg. In addition to this, water from the Malanser Stream is to be captured and channelled via a nearly 1.5 km pipeline to the intake in Laflina. The elevation difference is around 892 m. The approximately 17.3 GWh of energy that can thereby be produced is enough to supply around 5,000 households.

Owing to its installed capacity of over 3.0 MW, the hydropower facility is subject to environmental impact reporting. A Level 1 environmental impact report (EIR) is therefore to be submitted along with the licensing and concessions application. The purpose of the report is to demonstrate that project will comply with the relevant environmental statutes.

Working together with a number of specialist firms, EBP will be responsible for drafting the Level 1 environmental impact report. In doing so, we will assume the role of a project manager while also addressing the key issues relating to hydropeaking, suspended matter, water quality, landscape preservation, cultural assets, environmental threats, air quality, noise, NIS and vibrations. In addition to this, we will also be drafting the residual flow report.

According to the current project schedule, a permit is being sought to begin construction in 2017. The hydropower facility is to begin operation in 2020.