BKW Energie AG (BKW; formerly known as ''Bernische Kraftwerke AG'') is a power production and distribution utility with its headquarters in
Bern,
Switzerland. It also provides gas and heat through a number of subsidiaries or partner companies. It mainly operates in the
Canton of Bern, but is also present in
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
. and
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
.
History
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
BX Swiss
BX Swiss (formerly Berne eXchange, abbreviated: BX) is a Swiss stock exchange
A stock exchange, securities exchange, or bourse is an exchange where stockbrokers and traders can buy and sell securities, such as shares of stock, bonds an ...
since 1969. As from 2003, it is also present at the
Swiss Stock Exchange. Major shareholders are the
Canton of Bern (52.54%) and the German power company
E.ON Energie AG (20.99%, as of 2007).
[Annual report 2007](_blank)
/ref>
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.
Fossil fuel power
In 2008 a new 800 MW combined cycle gas power plant started operation in Livorno Ferraris (province of Vercelli
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman '' provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions out ...
, 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 Bern Canton:
* Aarberg
Aarberg is a historic town and a municipality in the Seeland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.
Aarberg lies 20 kilometers from Bern above the river Aare. With an area of , Aarberg borders Bargen, Kappelen, Lyss, Rad ...
, Bern Canton: run-of-the-river, 15.2 MW installed load, owned plant.
* Bannwil
Bannwil is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.
History
Bannwil is first mentioned in 1262 as ''Benwile''.
The area around Bannwil was inhabited during the Hallstatt era and the Early M ...
, Bern Canton: run-of-the-river, 28.5 MW installed load, owned plant.
* Kallnach
Kallnach (french: Chouchignies) is a municipality in the Seeland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. On 1 January 2019 the former municipality of Golaten merged into the municipality of Kallnach.
History
Kallnach i ...
, Bern Canton: run-of-the-river, 8.3 MW installed load, owned plant.
* Kandergrund
Kandergrund is a municipality in the Frutigen-Niedersimmental administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.
History
The area may have been lightly inhabited during the Bronze Age, however the earliest documented settlement was ar ...
, Bern Canton: run-of-the-river, 19.0 MW installed load, owned plant.
* Mühleberg
Mühleberg is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.
History
Mühleberg is first mentioned in 1011–16 as ''Mulinberg''.
There are several Hallstatt era grave mounds around Mühlebe ...
, Bern Canton: run-of-the-river, 44.6 MW installed load, owned plant.
* Niederried, Bern Canton: run-of-the-river, 15.0 MW installed load, owned plant.
* Spiez
Spiez is a town and municipality on the shore of Lake Thun in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss canton of Bern. It is part of the Frutigen-Niedersimmental administrative district. Besides the town of Spiez, the municipality also includes ...
, Bern 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, Bern Canton: 1.5 MW.
* EWR Energie AG, Bern Canton: 6.5 MW.
* Idroelettrica Lombarda Srl, provinces of Bergamo and Brescia
Brescia (, locally ; lmo, link=no, label= Lombard, Brèsa ; lat, Brixia; vec, Bressa) is a city and ''comune'' in the region of Lombardy, Northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, a few kilometers from the lakes Garda and Iseo ...
(Italy): 41.8 MW.
* Société des forces électriques de la Goule, Bern Canton: 7.5 MW.
* Onyx Energie Mittelland, Bern Canton: 20.2 MW.
* Simmentaler Kraftwerke AG, Bern Canton: 27.0 MW.
The rest is generated through holdings. The production portions of the BKW are:
* Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG
''Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG'' (KWO) is a Swiss energy supply company, based in Innertkirchen and operating several hydroelectric plants in the Oberhasli area of the Canton of Berne. It also operates a number of tourist attractions in the same area ...
, Bern Canton: 531.0 MW.
* Engadiner Kraftwerke AG, canton of Graubünden
The Grisons () or Graubünden,Names include:
*german: (Kanton) Graubünden ;
* Romansh:
** rm, label=Sursilvan, (Cantun) Grischun
** rm, label= Vallader, (Chantun) Grischun
** rm, label= Puter, (Chantun) Grischun
** rm, label= Surmiran, (Can ...
(Switzerland): 128.0 MW.
* Grande Dixence SA
:'' This article refers to the Grande Dixence Corporation; for the dam of the same name see Grande Dixence Dam''
Grande Dixence S.A. is a ''Société Anonyme'' operating in Switzerland which runs the Bieudron Hydro Project and the Grande Di ...
, canton of Wallis
Valais ( , , ; frp, Valês; german: Wallis ), more formally the Canton of Valais,; german: Kanton Wallis; in other official Swiss languages outside Valais: it, (Canton) Vallese ; rm, (Chantun) Vallais. is one of the cantons of Switzerland, 26 ...
(Switzerland): 90.0 MW.
* Kraftwerke Mauvoisin AG, canton of Wallis
Valais ( , , ; frp, Valês; german: Wallis ), more formally the Canton of Valais,; german: Kanton Wallis; in other official Swiss languages outside Valais: it, (Canton) Vallese ; rm, (Chantun) Vallais. is one of the cantons of Switzerland, 26 ...
(Switzerland): 77.2 MW.
* Gommerkraftwerke AG, canton of Wallis
Valais ( , , ; frp, Valês; german: Wallis ), more formally the Canton of Valais,; german: Kanton Wallis; in other official Swiss languages outside Valais: it, (Canton) Vallese ; rm, (Chantun) Vallais. is one of the cantons of Switzerland, 26 ...
(Switzerland): 50.0 MW.
* Maggia Kraftwerke AG, canton of Ticino (Switzerland): 62.0 MW.
* Blenio Kraftwerke AG, canton of Ticino (Switzerland): 47.0 MW.
* Kraftwerke Hinterrhein AG, canton of Graubünden
The Grisons () or Graubünden,Names include:
*german: (Kanton) Graubünden ;
* Romansh:
** rm, label=Sursilvan, (Cantun) Grischun
** rm, label= Vallader, (Chantun) Grischun
** rm, label= Puter, (Chantun) Grischun
** rm, label= Surmiran, (Can ...
(Switzerland): 50.0 MW.
* Electra-Massa AG, canton of Wallis
Valais ( , , ; frp, Valês; german: Wallis ), more formally the Canton of Valais,; german: Kanton Wallis; in other official Swiss languages outside Valais: it, (Canton) Vallese ; rm, (Chantun) Vallais. is one of the cantons of Switzerland, 26 ...
(Switzerland): 54.8 MW.
* Bielersee Kraftwerke AG, Bern Canton: 9.7 MW.
* Kraftwerke Mattmark AG, canton of Wallis
Valais ( , , ; frp, Valês; german: Wallis ), more formally the Canton of Valais,; german: Kanton Wallis; in other official Swiss languages outside Valais: it, (Canton) Vallese ; rm, (Chantun) Vallais. is one of the cantons of Switzerland, 26 ...
(Switzerland): 26.4 MW.
* Flumenthal
Flumenthal is a municipality in the district of Lebern in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland.
Flumenthal dam
The Flumenthal dam was erected in the 1970s on river Aare during the Second Jura water correction in order to regulate the waters o ...
, Bern Canton: 8.2 MW purchase right.
* Electricité de la Lienne SA, canton of Wallis
Valais ( , , ; frp, Valês; german: Wallis ), more formally the Canton of Valais,; german: Kanton Wallis; in other official Swiss languages outside Valais: it, (Canton) Vallese ; rm, (Chantun) Vallais. is one of the cantons of Switzerland, 26 ...
(Switzerland): 26.7 MW.
* Kraftwerke Sanetsch AG, Bern Canton: 9.0 MW.
* Aarewerke AG, canton of Aargau
Aargau, more formally the Canton of Aargau (german: Kanton Aargau; rm, Chantun Argovia; french: Canton d'Argovie; it, Canton Argovia), is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of eleven districts and its capit ...
(Switzerland): 4.0 MW.
Nuclear power
Around 60% of the energy produced comes from nuclear plants. BKW owns the Mühleberg Nuclear Power Plant
The Mühleberg Nuclear Power Plant (german: Kernkraftwerk Mühleberg, KKM) is a formerly operational nuclear power plant in the Mühleberg municipality in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland. Operated by BKW FMB Energie AG, the plant generated p ...
and three shares in other Swiss or French facilities:
* Cattenom Nuclear Power Plant
The Cattenom Nuclear Power Plant is a nuclear power plant located in Grand Est in the Cattenom commune, France, on the Moselle River between Thionville (7 km upstream) and Trier (48 km downstream). It is close to the city of Luxembo ...
, department of Moselle (France): 5200 MW net electric output, ca. 6% share.
* Fessenheim Nuclear Power Plant
The Fessenheim Nuclear Power Plant is located in the Fessenheim commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Grand Est in north-eastern France, north east of the Mulhouse urban area, within of the border with Germany, and approximately from Switzer ...
, department of Haut-Rhin
Haut-Rhin (, ; Alsatian: ''Owerelsàss'' or '; german: Oberelsass, ) is a department in the Grand Est region of France, bordering both Germany and Switzerland. It is named after the river Rhine. Its name means ''Upper Rhine''. Haut-Rhin is the ...
(France): 1760 MW net electric output, 10% share.
* Leibstadt Nuclear Power Plant, canton of Aargau
Aargau, more formally the Canton of Aargau (german: Kanton Aargau; rm, Chantun Argovia; french: Canton d'Argovie; it, Canton Argovia), is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of eleven districts and its capit ...
(Switzerland): 1165 MW net electric output, 9.25% share.
* Mühleberg Nuclear Power Plant
The Mühleberg Nuclear Power Plant (german: Kernkraftwerk Mühleberg, KKM) is a formerly operational nuclear power plant in the Mühleberg municipality in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland. Operated by BKW FMB Energie AG, the plant generated p ...
, Bern Canton: 355 MW net electric output, owned plant.
Solar Power
BKW possesses or shares an increasing number of solar plants of various size. The most important are:
* Mont-Soleil, Bern Canton: 560 kW installed power, 17.8% output share.
* Stade de Suisse, Bern Canton: 1300 kW installed power, owned plant.
Wind Power
BKW produces wind power at two plants:
* JUVENT Wind Power Plant, Bern Canton: 7.7 MW power output, 60% share.
* Bockelwitz Wind Power Plant, Saxony
Saxony (german: Sachsen ; Upper Saxon: ''Saggsn''; hsb, Sakska), officially the Free State of Saxony (german: Freistaat Sachsen, links=no ; Upper Saxon: ''Freischdaad Saggsn''; hsb, Swobodny stat Sakska, links=no), is a landlocked state of ...
(Germany): 15 MW power output, owned plant.
Major future developments
Biomass power
* BKW has a 25% share in an 11 MW biomass power plant in construction in Pignataro Maggiore (province of Caserta
The Province of Caserta ( it, Provincia di Caserta) is a province in the Campania region of southern Italy. Its capital is the city of Caserta, situated about by road north of Naples. The province has an area of , and had a total population of ...
, Italy). Operation should start in 2009.[Biomass plants in Italy](_blank)
(press release, in German).
* In Ottana (province of Nuoro
The province of Nuoro ( it, provincia di Nuoro; sc, provìntzia de Nùgoro) is a province in the autonomous island region of Sardinia, Italy. Its capital is the city of Nuoro.
It has an area of , and, , a total population of 210,972. The provinc ...
, Italy) BKW is present with a 10.5% share in a 35 MW biomass plant. The commercial operation should start in 2009.
Fossil fuel power
* In 2008 started the construction of a new 800 MW coal power plant in the city of Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven (, ''Wilhelm's Harbour''; Northern Low Saxon: ''Willemshaven'') is a coastal town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the western side of the Jade Bight, a bay of the North Sea, and has a population of 76,089. Wilhelmsh ...
(Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony (german: Niedersachsen ; nds, Neddersassen; stq, Läichsaksen) is a German state (') in northwestern Germany. It is the second-largest state by land area, with , and fourth-largest in population (8 million in 2021) among the 16 ...
, Germany). BKW takes part to the project with a 33% share (240 MW). It should start production in 2012.
* BKW is considering to build with other partners a 900 MW coal power plant in Dörpen
Dörpen is a municipality in the Emsland district, in Lower Saxony, Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the ...
(Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony (german: Niedersachsen ; nds, Neddersassen; stq, Läichsaksen) is a German state (') in northwestern Germany. It is the second-largest state by land area, with , and fourth-largest in population (8 million in 2021) among the 16 ...
, Germany).
* The Papierfabrik Utzenstorf AG and BKW are planning to build in Utzenstorf ( canton of Bern, Switzerland) a combined cycle gas power plant. It should start operation in 2016 and deliver power, steam and heat.
* Irsina
Irsina, until 1895 called Montepeloso (in local dialect: or ), is a town, ''comune'' (municipality) and former Latin bishopric in the province of Matera, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.
The town
Irsina is an agricultural town p ...
(province of Matera
The province of Matera ( it, Provincia di Matera; Materano: ) is a province in the Basilicata region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Matera. It has an area of and a total population of 201,133; the city Matera has a population of 61,204. Th ...
, Italy) has been chosen as possible location for a planned 400 MW combined cycle gas power plant.
Hydroelectric power
* In 2008, BKW started construction of a new run-of-the-river plant on the Alpbach torrent in Kandersteg
Kandersteg is a municipality in the Frutigen-Niedersimmental administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located along the valley of the River Kander, west of the Jungfrau massif. It is noted for its spectacular mountai ...
( canton of Bern, Switzerland). The 2.6 MW installation should start production in 2009. BKW possesses a 60% share.
* BKW has an 80% share in a company that is building a new small hydroelectric plant in Wiler
Wiler (Lötschen) is a municipality in the district of Raron in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.
Geography
Wiler has an area, , of . Of this area, or 19.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 23.2% is forested. Of the rest of ...
(canton of Wallis
Valais ( , , ; frp, Valês; german: Wallis ), more formally the Canton of Valais,; german: Kanton Wallis; in other official Swiss languages outside Valais: it, (Canton) Vallese ; rm, (Chantun) Vallais. is one of the cantons of Switzerland, 26 ...
, Switzerland). The 1.4 MW station should start operation in 2010.
* Schattenhalb 3 is a new 10 MW hydroelectric power plant which construction started in 2008. It is located in Schattenhalb ( canton of Bern, Switzerland) and is planned to start production in 2010. It will be operated by a subsidiary of BKW.
* BKW and the municipality of Tinizong-Rona
Tinizong-Rona is a former municipality in the district of Albula in the Sursés in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It was formed in 1998 from the villages of ''Tinizong'' and '' Rona''. The local administration is situated in Tinizong. ...
(canton of Graubünden
The Grisons () or Graubünden,Names include:
*german: (Kanton) Graubünden ;
* Romansh:
** rm, label=Sursilvan, (Cantun) Grischun
** rm, label= Vallader, (Chantun) Grischun
** rm, label= Puter, (Chantun) Grischun
** rm, label= Surmiran, (Can ...
, Switzerland) will build a new 7.5 MW plant that will exploit the Errbach torrent.
Nuclear power
In the 2020s, the Mühleberg Nuclear Power Plant
The Mühleberg Nuclear Power Plant (german: Kernkraftwerk Mühleberg, KKM) is a formerly operational nuclear power plant in the Mühleberg municipality in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland. Operated by BKW FMB Energie AG, the plant generated p ...
will probably cease its activity and the contracts for importing nuclear energy from France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
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 Bern 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.BKW Facts and Figures
, 2007
References
External links
BKW FMB Energie AG
{{Authority control
Electric power companies of Switzerland
Nuclear power companies of Switzerland
E.ON
Companies listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange
Companies based in Bern