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The Federal Administrative Court (FAC) has rejected the appeal against the decision to approve construction plans, passed on 19 January 2015 by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. In its judgement of December, 14, 2016, the Swiss Federal Administrative Court backed the measures aimed at optimising noise pollution and electrical losses, which had been approved by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) as part of its approval of plans for construction of the new Chamoson – Chippis 380 kV overhead line.
In 2010, the SFOE had already approved the plans to construct the new Chamoson – Chippis 380 kV line, but appeals were subsequently submitted to the FAC, which backed the line as an overhead line, but demanded an additional study into reducing noise emissions and energy losses. The Federal Supreme Court then backed the FAC’s decision. On the basis of this additional study, on 19 January 2015 the SFOE approved the plans for construction of the new Chamoson – Chippis 380 kV line with a three-conductor system, which enables a significant reduction in noise pollution and electrical losses.
The new 380 kV Chamoson – Chippis line is part of the strategic planning for Swissgrid's grid (2025 Strategic Grid) addressing the future requirements of the transport network as projected by the Government's 2050 energy strategy, which includes a total nuclear phaseout. Other projects to reinforce and expand the electrical grid have been planned in this context in Valais, including adapting the Chippis – Bickigen line from 220 kV to 380 kV. These two projects are necessary to transport and to make use of the energy produced by the canton's major hydroelectric installations.