Turbach hydropower plant in Saanen region commissioned
Press release
Turbach hydropower plant in Saanen region commissioned
30 October 2026
BKW and aventron have commissioned the new Turbach hydropower plant in the municipality of Saanen. The plant harnesses the power of the Turbachbach and in the future it will generate around 7.3 gigawatt hours of renewable electricity annually from the stream. With an investment of around CHF 16 million, the two companies have achieved a further milestone for the expansion of domestic energy production.
After a construction period of around two years, the Turbach hydropower plant is now operational. Built on the Turbachbach, the plant uses the natural gradient of the stream to produce electricity and has an output of 2.5 megawatts. The investment amounts to around CHF 16 million. The project was implemented by Kraftwerk Turbach AG, in which BKW holds a 55% stake, with the remaining 45% held by aventron.
Local hydropower shaping the future of energy
Hydropower is an important pillar of Switzerland’s electricity supply. In light of rising electricity demand and the challenges associated with reliability of supply, the expansion of domestic electricity production is more important than ever. The Turbach hydropower plant demonstrates how regional resources can be used in the long term through the collaboration of two energy companies. «Every additional kilowatt hour from renewable sources counts toward Switzerland’s energy future. The Turbach power plant will offer us additional production capacity in the long term. This is a tangible contribution to our strategic goals and to a stronger domestic electricity supply,» says Margarita Aleksieva, Executive Vice President Energy Production at BKW.
The commissioning is also an important milestone for aventron. «The Turbach hydropower plant represents the completion of a challenging project with BKW. It shows the importance of long-term partnerships and the use of regional resources in the expansion of renewable energies,» says Eric Wagner, CEO of aventron.
A new power plant for the region
Construction began in summer 2024. The positive cooperation of everyone involved meant the complex pressure pipeline, as well as the water catchment and the central building, were completed on schedule. Water protection was a particularly important concern in the project. As well as ensuring adequate quantities of residual water, the water habitats of the Turbachbach were upgraded. These measures were implemented in close collaboration with the local waterway control body, and cantonal authorities and specialist agencies.
The hydropower plant will open its doors to the public on Saturday, 31 October 2026. Visitors will get a close-up view of the plant and find out how electricity is generated from the power of water.
