Kraftwerke Zervreila AG

What Kraftwerke Zervreila AG does

Kraftwerke Zervreila AG (KWZ) is a Swiss hydroelectric utility founded on 17 May 1952 and headquartered in Cazis, with business management in St. Gallen. The company operates an integrated cascade of three power stations — Zervreila, Safien, and Rothenbrunnen — together with the legacy Rabiusa-Realta plant, processing water from a 200 km² catchment area in the upper Valsertal and Safiental valleys of Graubünden. The system's centerpiece is the Zervreila storage reservoir, impounded by a 151 m arch dam (504 m crown length) holding 100 million m³, which enables seasonal storage of summer inflows for winter dispatch. KWZ's technical infrastructure includes a 14.2 km overland diversion tunnel (Zervreila-Wanna), Francis and Pelton turbine sets at the three stations (totaling roughly 232 MW installed capacity across turbines), and pumped-storage capability at the Zervreila station. Annual production is approximately 542,000 MWh of CO₂-free electricity.

KWZ generates revenue primarily by selling electricity produced from its cascade to its 22 concession municipalities (at preferential concession energy rates totaling 32,000 MWh/year) and to the broader Swiss and European wholesale market, with the remaining grid-connected output traded via the integrated European electricity system. A secondary revenue stream comes from network tariffs (Netztarife) charged for grid access and transmission services within its concession area. The company is privately held as a Swiss stock corporation with CHF 50 million share capital, structured as a partnership company (Partnergesellschaft) with five anchor shareholders: SN Energie AG (28.8%), Alpiq Suisse SA (21.6%), Axpo Hydro AG (21.6%), Canton of Graubünden (12.6%), and the Korporation der Konzessionsgemeinden der KWZ (15.4%, representing 22 municipalities). The 2008 ownership restructuring, in which the municipalities and canton collectively took a 28% stake, aligned KWZ's equity base with its long-term concession counterparties.

KWZ employs approximately 25-28 people across operations, maintenance, and management, and is pursuing two significant capacity-expansion projects: the Lugnez Water Diversion (5 intakes, ~13 km of tunnels, +80 GWh/year ≈ 15% capacity uplift, subject to ongoing permitting after a Federal Court ruling) and the Zervreila dam heightening by 10 meters (+17 million m³ of storage, +46 GWh/year). Its competitive position rests on long-dated water concessions, a fully amortized large-scale asset base, and the strategic relevance of dispatchable winter hydropower within Switzerland's energy strategy 2050 and nuclear phase-out context.

Name

Kraftwerke Zervreila AG

Legal name

Kraftwerke Zervreila AG

Website

https://kwz.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kraftwerke Zervreila AG is a Swiss hydroelectric utility operating a cascade of three power stations (Zervreila, Safien, Rothenbrunnen) on a 200 km² catchment in Graubünden. It produces approximately 542,000 MWh annually for 22 concession municipalities, the Canton of Graubünden, and the Swiss wholesale market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hydroelectric Power Generation

NAICS

Hydroelectric Power Generation (221111), Electric Power Generation (22111), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Reservoir/Impoundment Hydroelectric Generation (EUACAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pumped-Storage Hydroelectric Generation (EUACAEAC), Hydropower Plant Development & Permitting (Greenfield/Brownfield) (EUACAEAE), Hydro & Geothermal Reservoir/Wellfield Operations (Waterways, Dams, Wells, Brine Handling) (EUAMAGAI), Renewable Energy Infrastructure (FSAAAKAG)

Keywords

• Hydroelectric power generation
• Renewable energy supply
• Electricity grid operations
• Seasonal energy storage
• Concession energy sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Cazis

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Electricity Production and Sales: KWZ generates hydroelectric power from its cascade of three power stations (Zervreila, Safien, Rothenbrunnen) and sells the electricity produced. As a utility, power is sold to concession municipalities, traded on the wholesale market, and supplied to end consumers in the region.
2. Water Rights Fees (Wasserzinsen): Annual fees paid to municipalities and the canton based on water usage rights. KWZ pays significant water rights fees to public entities as part of its concession agreements.
3. Concession Energy Supply: KWZ supplies concession energy to regional electricity providers at preferential rates, fulfilling its obligations as a concession holder in exchange for water usage rights.
4. Network Tariffs (Netztarife): KWZ operates a power grid/network and charges network tariffs for grid access and transmission services in its concession area.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kraftwerke Zervreila AG generates and sells hydroelectric energy from a 200 km² catchment area in the Swiss Alps, operating a cascade of three power stations (Zervreila, Safien, Rothenbrunnen) anchored by the Zervreila storage reservoir (100 million m³). The company supplies concession energy to 22 concession municipalities and the Canton of Graubünden, operates its own electricity distribution network with published network tariffs, and trades residual production on the Swiss/European wholesale electricity market.

Product overview

Kraftwerke Zervreila AG operates a hydroelectric power generation system comprising three main power stations (Zervreila, Safien, and Rothenbrunnen), storage facilities including the Zervreila reservoir and Egschi dam, and the legacy Rabiusa-Realta plant. The interconnected system harnesses water from a 200 km² catchment area in the upper Valsertal and Safiental valleys, utilizing gravity-driven turbine technology to generate electricity. The infrastructure includes diversion tunnels, balancing basins, and pressure shafts connecting the various facilities. The company also provides grid services and is pursuing expansion projects including the Lugnez diversion and dam heightening initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zentrale Zervreila (Zervreila Power Station) Power station located at the foot of the Zervreila dam, featuring 2 vertical-axis Francis turbines of 10,000 kW each and 2 vertical-axis pumps of 3,500 kW each, with a 127 m gross elevation difference. Also enables pumped storage of water back to the reservoir.
• Zentrale Safien (Safien Power Station) Power station with 2 vertical-axis Francis turbines of 43,000 kW each, featuring a 425 m gross elevation difference, processing water from the Rabiusa and Carnusa catchment areas.
• Zentrale Rothenbrunnen (Rothenbrunnen Power Station) Major power station — the lowest stage of the three-station cascade — with 3 horizontal-axis twin Pelton turbines of 42,000 kW each, achieving a 673 m gross elevation difference, and generators of 52,000 kVA each. Returns water to the Hinterrhein.
• Kraftwerk Rabiusa-Realta (Rabiusa-Realta Power Plant) Hydroelectric plant that processes water from the Egschi reservoir in the Safiental valley, incorporated into the KWZ plant group since 1949.
• Stausee Zervreila (Zervreila Reservoir) Storage lake with 151 m high arch dam of 504 m crest length and 100 million m³ capacity, harnessed using summer inflows from the Valser Rhine and right-bank side streams up to the Peilerbach. Enables seasonal water storage for winter electricity generation.
• Staumauer Egschi (Egschi Dam with Dotier Turbine) Dam structure with 500,000 m³ basin capacity at 1151 m elevation, including a dotation turbine operational since 2025 generating approximately 450 MWh annually for environmental/minimum flow purposes.
• Netztarife / Grid Network Services Electrical grid services including network tariffs (Netztarife), grid overview, and network availability monitoring for the KWZ power distribution network within its concession area.
• Überleitung Lugnez (Lugnez Diversion Project) Planned expansion project involving 5 water intakes and approximately 13 km of tunnels to divert additional water from the upper Lugnez valley to increase annual electricity production by 80 GWh (sufficient for ~18,000 households).

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual production of ~542,000 MWh of CO₂-free electricity
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BKW Energie AG: Large Swiss energy company with hydropower generation across multiple cantons, network operations, and energy services. Comparable as a vertically integrated Swiss hydroelectric utility serving Swiss grid and end consumers through similar concession and wholesale channels.
• Axpo AG: One of Switzerland's largest electricity producers and KWZ's largest peer — Axpo Hydro AG owns 21.6% of KWZ. Both operate large-scale Swiss hydropower portfolios across multiple cantons, serve regulated Swiss grid demand, and are positioned around Swiss Energy Strategy 2050. Directly comparable on technology (hydroelectric generation), geography (Switzerland), and customer base (Swiss utilities and end consumers).
• Repower AG: Swiss electricity producer headquartered in Graubünden (Poschiavo) with hydropower generation, grid operations, and trading across Switzerland and Italy. Operates in the same canton as KWZ and serves overlapping municipal concession structures. Comparable on geography (Graubünden), business model (hydro generation + grid), and customer segments (Swiss utilities and regional end consumers).
• IWB Industrielle Werke Basel: Multi-utility owned by the Canton of Basel-Stadt with hydropower generation, district heating, and grid operations. Comparable as a Swiss utility with renewable hydro generation, network operations, and concession-style offtake structures.
• Alpiq AG: Major Swiss electricity producer and KWZ shareholder (21.6% via Alpiq Suisse SA). Alpiq operates extensive Swiss and European generation including significant hydropower, and trades on the Swiss wholesale market. Directly comparable in terms of hydropower generation, Swiss market participation, and wholesale trading exposure.

Regional players

• Engadin Strom AG: Regional Swiss hydroelectric utility operating in the Engadin valley (Graubünden canton), similar to KWZ's regional Graubünden focus. Smaller in scale but directly comparable in operating model (cascade hydro serving local municipalities and trading into the Swiss grid).

Direct peers

• SN Energie AG: Largest single shareholder of KWZ at 28.8% and the data protection responsible party per KWZ's privacy notice. SN Energie is a regional Swiss utility (Glarus/Schwanden) operating hydropower and grid infrastructure in eastern Switzerland — directly comparable as a regional hydropower utility with similar operational and regulatory profile.
• Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG: Swiss alpine hydropower company operating the famous Grimsel storage cascade in the Bernese Oberland. Comparable to KWZ in technology (high-head storage hydro with Pelton and Francis turbines), business model (concession-based hydropower utility serving Swiss grid), and value proposition (dispatchable renewable generation and grid balancing).
• Forces Motrices de la Gruyère (FMG): Swiss hydropower company operating the Schiffenen and Gruyère reservoirs and associated cascade power stations in the canton of Fribourg. Comparable to KWZ in operating model (cascade hydropower with storage), technology (Francis/Pelton turbines), and customer base (Swiss utilities and regional consumers).
• Grande Dixence SA: Owner-operator of the Grande Dixence dam (285m, the world's highest gravity dam) and storage infrastructure in the Swiss Alps, serving multiple partner utilities. Directly comparable to KWZ in technology (large reservoir storage hydro), geography (Swiss Alps), and business model (cooperative storage infrastructure serving Swiss grid).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@snenergie-schweiz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kraftwerke-zervreila-ag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kraftwerke Zervreila AG