Lenz & Staehelin with ZENDRA on the protection and commercialization of its software-supported photovoltaic sub-construction

Lenz & Staehelin advised ZENDRA, the company whose photovoltaic sub-construction will be used in the alpine solar project “SedrunSolar”, on the protection and commercialization of its intellectual property rights and know-how to its product. Such protection is particularly valuable considering its innovative character, being supported by a software which offers a significant advantage in the construction of solar plants compared to traditional photovoltaic sub-constructions, while additionally taking environmental protection and animal welfare concerns into consideration by ensuring minimal impact on nature and an easy way of deconstruction.

Lenz & Staehelin’s team

Lenz & Staehelin’s team comprised partner Dr. Jürg Simon (pictured) and associate Simona Baselgia.

Solar Express initiative

In fall 2022, the Swiss Parliament adopted the so-called “Solar Express”, an initiative which promotes the construction of alpine solar plants by means of an accelerated approval process and the award of federal subsidies, provided that the solar plants are connected to the grid by the end of 2025. While in the past, the media mainly reported on respective projects which have failed, there are a couple of projects which are still realistically pursuing the goal of being connected to the grid by the end of 2025. One of these projects is the project “SedrunSolar” in the canton of Graubünden, which recently received the construction permission as one of the first alpine solar projects under the “Solar Express” regulation.