The biogas plant project in La Chaux-de-Fonds, one of the largest in Switzerland, has been delayed and will not see the light of day before 2026. Due to the size of the project, the State of Neuchâtel has requested the need for plant planning through a special allocation plan.
“This position follows recent rulings by the Federal Court concerning biogas installations in agricultural areas. As the special plan is an instrument adopted by the municipal legislature, it will have to be voted on by the General Council. This procedure delays the start of work of at least twelve months, so that the plant should not come into service before 2026”, the project leaders said on Tuesday.
The Department of Territorial Development and the Environment (DDTE) and the Municipal Council of La Chaux-de-Fonds “have already assured their support for this approach, the project being perfectly in line with the 2050 energy strategy of the Confederation”, can we read in the press release.
The next step will be the filing of a request for a special plan equivalent to a building permit by February 2023.
One of the largest biogas sites in the country
Agriteos was founded in April 2021. The energy supplier Viteos, the Chamber of Agriculture and Viticulture of the canton of Neuchâtel (CNAV), the Agricultural Society of La Chaux-de-Fonds, the Syndicate of milk producers of La Chaux-de-Fonds, as well as 35 farmers and milk producers active in the town.
Estimated at 13 million francs, the plant will generate approximately 14 GWh of biomethane injected into the gas network, or the equivalent of the heat consumption of 1,400 households.
The installation, which is to be built at the eastern exit of the city, will become one of the largest plants for the production of biogas from biomass in Switzerland.
ats/ once more