Swissgrid is increasing the capacity of the line between All’Acqua and Magadino. This is necessary in order to be able to transport hydroelectricity from the plant in Vallemaggia. Through this measure, it will be possible to dismantle about 60 km of existing lines.
The project, part of Swissgrid's Strategic Grid 2025, will establish a double connection for a length of approx. 74 km between All’Acqua and Magadino, through Vallemaggia, replacing the current line which is now old and undersized. The project emerged from a joint study carried out by the Canton of Ticino, Swissgrid, AET and FFS.
When in operation, the new line will enable the dismantling of approx. 60 km of overhead lines in Vallemaggia that will no longer be needed. Not only will this benefit the valuable area of Upper Ticino, but it will also increase the transport capacities of the grid at the same time and improve the transportation of energy produced in Vallemaggia, which is currently restricted.
The project is subject to the procedures of the Transmission Lines Sectoral Plan (PSE) of the Swiss Confederation (research of a corridor), which coordinates the planning of projects that have significant repercussions for an area and the environment.
Under Swissgrid's Strategic Grid 2025, a new 220 kV power line to replace the existing one will run along the Valle Maggia, linking the Magadino substation with the substation that will be constructed at All’Acqua in Val Bedretto. Other than replacing the current lines (constructed in the 1960s and now old), the project has the additional objective of adapting the grid’s capacity to the need for transportation of the energy produced by the hydroelectric plants in Vallemaggia (now subject to a restriction of 30%) and of guaranteeing greater security of supply to the South of the Alps and Switzerland.
The dismantling of approx. 60 km of existing overhead lines will mean a lesser impact on villages, on national and cantonal protected areas and on valuable areas in Upper Ticino (in particular in the Campolungo, Naret and Cristallina areas).
| November 2013 | General study on the extra-high-voltage grid in Ticino |
| February 2015 | Start of the sectoral plan process |
| Summer 2015 | Information event for authorities, associations and the general public before the circulation of the planning territory |
| March 2016 | Specification of the planning territory by the Federal Council |
| 2019 – 2022 | Public consultation / cooperation procedure on the planning corridor |
| 2023 | Information event for authorities, associations and the general public before the circulation of the planning corridor |
| 2024 | Specification of the planning corridor and the technology by the Federal Council |
| 2027 | Start of the planning approval procedure |
| 2030 | Planning approval decision |
| 2034 | Commissioning of the new line 220 kilovolt lines |
| 2035 | Dismantling of the existing 220 kilovolt line |
In November 2013, the Canton of Ticino, Swissgrid, Azienda elettrica ticinese (AET) and the Swiss Federal Railways (FFS) jointly carried out a «General study on the extra-high-voltage grid in Ticino» in coordination with the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE). From this study, a solution was found which, on the one hand, facilitates an increase in the capacity to transport energy produced in Vallemaggia and, on the other, relieves the area of existing lines that are no longer necessary.
The study took into consideration 70 different variations. The evaluation was carried out in various stages that saw the gradual reduction of the plausible variations. The evaluation work was done together with the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment and some other federal offices and associations working to protect the environment and plan the area. As a result, the variation referred to as «Leventina + 14» was chosen
This study aims to identify a general and sustainable approach to the transmission lines, which aligns the objectives for the redevelopment and modernisation of transmission lines with those of area planning. In an initial phase, the study examined the area designated as the «Upper Ticino – Western Part» section and the Vallemaggia and Locarnese up to Magadino, Valle Bedretto and Alta Leventina up to Lavorgo. Stage 2 has been underway since 2017 and takes into consideration the Riviera, Valle di Blenio and the Magadino Plain. The second stage is due to finish in 2022.
With the dismantling of approx. 60 km of overhead lines – the «Reorganisation Solution» will lessen the impact on the local population, on protected areas of national and cantonal importance, and on the quality of the Upper Ticino landscapes, while at the same time increasing the transmission capacity and facilitating a better evacuation of the power produced in Vallemaggia.
The reorganisation solution found will have a positive impact on the exceptional landscapes, in particular due to the dismantling of the Peccia – Lavorgo, Peccia – Handegg and Robiei – Innertkirchen 220 kV lines.
In this way, important improvements to the landscape can be implemented in the areas of the Alpe Zaria (included in the Federal Inventory of Wetlands of Special Beauty and of National Importance), Campolungo (included in the Federal Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Beauty of National Importance), Cristallina, in Lower Vallemaggia and in Valle Bedretto. In addition, the proposed solution enables various residential and industrial areas to be streamlined.
