BKW FMB Energie AG
Encyclopedia
The BKW FMB Energie AG is a power production and distribution utility with headquarter in Berne
Berne
The city of Bern or Berne is the Bundesstadt of Switzerland, and, with a population of , the fourth most populous city in Switzerland. The Bern agglomeration, which includes 43 municipalities, has a population of 349,000. The metropolitan area had a population of 660,000 in 2000...

, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

. Through some subsidiaries or partner companies it also provides gas and heat. It operates mainly in the canton of Berne
Canton of Berne
The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

, but is present also in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...

.

History

The BKW was founded in 1898 as Aktiengesellschaft Elektrizitätswerk Hagneck. The name was changed in 1909 to Bernische Kraftwerke AG. In 1995 it changed to the present BKW FMB Energie AG to emphasize the internationalization of the company business plan.

It is quoted at the Berne eXchange since 1969. Starting from 2003 it is also present at the Swiss Stock Exchange. Major shareholders are the Canton of Berne
Canton of Berne
The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

 (52.54%) and the German power company E.ON Energie AG
E.ON
E.ON AG, marketed with an interpunct as E•ON, is the holding company of the world's largest investor-owned energy service provider based in Düsseldorf, Germany. The name comes from the Greek word aeon which means eternity....

 (20.99%, as of 2007).

Power production

With a yearly energy sale of 24.2 TW·h the BKW is one of the biggest Swiss power utilities. Of them 9.7 TW·h are produced by own plants or by shares in other facilities. As of 2007 the mix is mainly composed by nuclear (61.87%) and hydroelectric (37.96%) power. The remaining 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
Livorno Ferraris
Livorno Ferraris is a comune in the Province of Vercelli in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 40 km northeast of Turin and about 25 km west of Vercelli....

 (province of Vercelli
Province of Vercelli
Vercelli is a province in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. Its capital is Vercelli., it has an area of 2,088 km², and a total population of 176,829...

, 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 the canton of Berne
Canton of Berne
The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

:
  • Aarberg, canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

     (Switzerland): run-of-the-river, 15.2 MW installed load, owned plant.
  • Bannwil, canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

     (Switzerland): run-of-the-river, 28.5 MW installed load, owned plant.
  • Kallnach, canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

     (Switzerland): run-of-the-river, 8.3 MW installed load, owned plant.
  • Kandergrund, canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

     (Switzerland): run-of-the-river, 19.0 MW installed load, owned plant.
  • Mühleberg, canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

     (Switzerland): run-of-the-river, 44.6 MW installed load, owned plant.
  • Niederried, canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

     (Switzerland): run-of-the-river, 15.0 MW installed load, owned plant.
  • Spiez, canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

     (Switzerland): 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, canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

     (Switzerland): 1.5 MW.
  • EWR Energie AG, canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

     (Switzerland): 6.5 MW.
  • Idroelettrica Lombarda Srl, provinces of Bergamo
    Province of Bergamo
    The Province of Bergamo is a province in the Lombardy region of Italy. It has a population of 1,098,740 , an area of 2,722.86 square km, and contains 244 comuni...

     and Brescia
    Province of Brescia
    The Province of Brescia is a Province in Lombardy, Italy. It borders with the province of Sondrio in the N and NW, the province of Bergamo in the W, province of Cremona in the SW and S, the province of Mantova to the S, and to the east, the province of Verona and Trentino .Source for statistical...

     (Italy): 41.8 MW.
  • Société des forces électriques de la Goule, canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

     (Switzerland): 7.5 MW.
  • Onyx Energie Mittelland, canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

     (Switzerland): 20.2 MW.
  • Simmentaler Kraftwerke AG, canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

     (Switzerland): 27.0 MW.


The rest is generated through holdings. The production portions of the BKW are:
  • Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG
    Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG
    Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG is a Swiss company operating several hydroelectric plants in Oberhasli, Canton of Berne.Founded in 1925, the company had its first power plant, Handeck 1, online by 1932....

    , canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

     (Switzerland): 531.0 MW.
  • Engadiner Kraftwerke AG, canton of Graubünden (Switzerland): 128.0 MW.
  • Grande Dixence SA, canton of Wallis (Switzerland): 90.0 MW.
  • Kraftwerke Mauvoisin AG, canton of Wallis (Switzerland): 77.2 MW.
  • Gommerkraftwerke AG, canton of Wallis (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 (Switzerland): 50.0 MW.
  • Electra-Massa AG, canton of Wallis (Switzerland): 54.8 MW.
  • Bielersee Kraftwerke AG, canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

     (Switzerland): 9.7 MW.
  • Kraftwerke Mattmark AG, canton of Wallis (Switzerland): 26.4 MW.
  • Flumenthal, canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

     (Switzerland): 8.2 MW purchase right.
  • Electricité de la Lienne SA, canton of Wallis (Switzerland): 26.7 MW.
  • Kraftwerke Sanetsch AG, canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

     (Switzerland): 9.0 MW.
  • Aarewerke AG, canton of Aargau (Switzerland): 4.0 MW.

Nuclear power

Around 60% of the energy produced cames from nuclear plants. BKW owns the Mühleberg Nuclear Power Plant
Mühleberg Nuclear Power Plant
The Mühleberg Nuclear Power Plant is located in the Mühleberg municipality in the north of the village of Mühleberg and near the hydroelectric plant...

 and three shares in other Swiss or French facilities:
  • Cattenom Nuclear Power Plant
    Cattenom Nuclear Power Plant
    The Cattenom Nuclear Power Station is a nuclear power plant located in Lorraine in the Cattenom commune, France on the Moselle River between Thionville and Trier...

    , department of Moselle
    Moselle
    Moselle is a department in the east of France named after the river Moselle.- History :Moselle is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...

     (France): 5200 MW net electric output, ca. 6% share.
  • Fessenheim Nuclear Power Plant
    Fessenheim Nuclear Power Plant
    The Fessenheim Nuclear Power Plant is located in the Fessenheim commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France, north east of the Mulhouse urban area, within of the border with Germany, and approximately from Switzerland...

    , department of Haut-Rhin
    Haut-Rhin
    Haut-Rhin is a département of the Alsace region of France, named after the Rhine river. Its name means Upper Rhine. Haut-Rhin is the smaller and less populated of the two departements of Alsace, although is still densely populated compared to the rest of France.-Subdivisions:The department...

     (France): 1760 MW net electric output, 10% share.
  • Leibstadt Nuclear Power Plant
    Leibstadt Nuclear Power Plant
    The Nuclear power station Leibstadt, abbreviated KKL, is in the municipality Leibstadt on the Rhine River close of the Aare delta and the German border...

    , canton of Aargau (Switzerland): 1165 MW net electric output, 9.25% share.
  • Mühleberg Nuclear Power Plant
    Mühleberg Nuclear Power Plant
    The Mühleberg Nuclear Power Plant is located in the Mühleberg municipality in the north of the village of Mühleberg and near the hydroelectric plant...

    , canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

     (Switzerland): 355 MW net electric output, owned plant.

Solar Power

BKW possesses or shares an increasing number of solar plants various size. The most important are:
  • Mont-Soleil, canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

     (Switzerland): 560 kW installed power, 17.8% output share.
  • Stade de Suisse, canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

     (Switzerland): 1300 kW installed power, owned plant.

Wind Power

BKW produces wind power at two plants:
  • JUVENT Wind Power Plant, canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

     (Switzerland: 7.7 MW power output, 60% share.
  • Bockelwitz Wind Power Plant, Saxony
    Saxony
    The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....

     (Germany): 15 MW power output, owned plant.

Biomass power

  • BKW has a 25% share in a 11 MW biomass power plant in construction in Pignataro Maggiore
    Pignataro Maggiore
    Pignataro Maggiore is a comune in the Province of Caserta in the Italian region Campania, located about 40 km north of Naples and about 20 km northwest of Caserta....

     (province of Caserta
    Province of Caserta
    The Province of Caserta is a province in the Campania region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Caserta. The former royal palace of Caserta is located near to the city.It has an area of 2,639 km², and a total population of 879,342...

    , Italy). Operation should start in 2009.

  • In Ottana
    Ottana
    Ottana is a comune in the Province of Nuoro in the Italian region Sardinia, located about 110 km north of Cagliari and about 25 km southwest of Nuoro.It is home to the Romanesque church of San Nicola....

     (province of Nuoro
    Province of Nuoro
    The Province of Nuoro is a province in the autonomous island region of Sardinia, Italy. Its capital is the city of Nuoro.It has an area of 3,934 km², and a total population of 161,444. The province is divided into 52 comuni, the largest of which are Nuoro , Siniscola , Macomer , and Dorgali...

    , 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
    Wilhelmshaven 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.-History:...

     (Lower Saxony
    Lower Saxony
    Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...

    , 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
    Samtgemeinde Dörpen is a Samtgemeinde in the district Emsland in Lower Saxony, Germany.Following towns are situated in Dörpen:...

     (Lower Saxony
    Lower Saxony
    Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...

    , Germany).

  • The Papierfabrik Utzenstorf AG and BKW are planning to build in Utzenstorf
    Utzenstorf
    Utzenstorf is a municipality in the administrative district of Emmental in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is regionally famous for its medieval castle, Schloss Landschut.-Geography:...

     (canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

    , Switzerland) a combined cycle gas power plant. It should start operation in 2016 and deliver power, steam and heat.

  • Irsina
    Irsina
    Irsina is a town and comune in the province of Matera, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.The economy is mostly based on agriculture, with the production of cereals and wine.- The Village of Irsina and the Surrounding Countryside :...

     (province of Matera
    Province of Matera
    The Province of Matera is a province in the Basilicata region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Matera.It has an area of 3,447 km², and a total population of 203,837 . There are 31 comunes in the province . The main comunes by population are:- External links :* **...

    , Italy) has been chosen as possible location for a planned 400 MW combined cycle gas power plant.

Hydroelectric power

  • In 2008 started the construction of a new run-of-the-river plant on the Alpbach torrent in Kandersteg
    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 mountain scenery and sylvan alpine landscapes. Tourism is a...

     (canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

    , Switzerland). The 2.6 MW installation should start production in 2009. BKW possesses a 60% share.

  • BKW has a 80% share in a company that is building a new small hydroelectric plant in Wiler
    Wiler
    Wiler 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...

     (canton of Wallis, 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
    Schattenhalb
    Schattenhalb is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-History:The municipality was created in 1834 from the cooperative farms of "Willigen," "Geissholz," "Falchern" and "Lugen." The name Schattenhalb refers to the shady face of...

     (canton of Berne
    Canton of Berne
    The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

    , 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
    Tinizong-Rona is a municipality in the district of Albula in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It was formed in 1998 from the communes of Tinizongand Rona. The local administration is situated in Tinizong.-History:...

     (canton of Graubünden, 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
Mühleberg Nuclear Power Plant
The Mühleberg Nuclear Power Plant is located in the Mühleberg municipality in the north of the village of Mühleberg and near the hydroelectric plant...

 will probably cease its activity and the contracts for importing nuclear
energy from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 will expire. The BKW and Axpo founded the Resun AG
Resun AG
Resun AG is a company located in Aarau . Its purpose is to manage the construction of two new nuclear reactors...

 to prevent the consequent energy lack. Its purpose is to menage the administrative procedure for building two new nuclear plants up to 1600 MW each.

Transmission grid

BKW provides with power around one million people in 400 municipalities in canton of Berne
Canton of Berne
The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...

 and surroundings through its local and distribution networks 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.
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