Ski lift powered entirely by solar panels.

I came across this short article on ecofriend.org and thought it was worth sharing:

Eco Factor: Ski lift powered entirely by photovoltaic panels

Tenna, a small town in Switzerland with a population of just 110 inhabitants, is about to get the world’s second ski lift that will be powered entirely by photovoltaic panels. The ski lift’s solar panels will have an energy generation capacity of 90,000KWh, which gives three lifts to move on renewable energy, each consuming about 22,000KWh.

All excess electricity will be sold to the grid. The lift features solar panels that are incorporated on the same lift, without having to build additional buildings. The panels are adjustable and can be removed to clear accumulated snow. The panels are anchored to the lift’s cables and bear the entire weight of the panels.

The panels are attached in a fashion that allows maximum sun exposure for maximum electricity generation. The opening of the solar lift is planned for December 2010.