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Energy in Switzerland

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The Mauvoisin Dam. Hydropower plants constitute the most important source of electric energy in Switzerland.

The energy sector in Switzerland is, by its structure and importance, typical of a developed country.[1] Apart from hydroelectric power and firewood, the country has few indigenous energy resources: oil products, natural gas and nuclear fuel are imported, so that by 2013 only 22.6% of primary energy consumption will have been covered by local resources.

Final energy consumption in Switzerland has increased more than fivefold since the beginning of the 20th century, from around 170,000 to 896,000 terajoules per year, with the largest share now being captured by transport (35% in 2013). This increase was made in parallel with the strong development of its economy and the increase in population. As the sector is highly liberalised, the federal energy policy aims to accompany the promises made in Kyoto by promoting a more rational use of energy and, particularly since the 1990s, the development of new renewable sources.

Thanks to the high share of hydroelectricity (59.6%) and nuclear power (31.7%) in electricity production, Switzerland's per capita energy-related CO2 emissions are 28% lower than the European Union average and roughly equal to those of France.

Following the earthquake that struck Japan in March 2011 and the Fukushima nuclear accident, the Federal Council announced on 25 May 2011 a phase-out of nuclear energy scheduled for 2034.

This "2050 energy strategy" was accepted by 58.2% of the population in a popular vote on May 21, 2017, and the new legislation came into force in 2018.

History

The energy economy in Switzerland developed similarly to the rest of Europe, but with some delay until 1850. There are three different periods. An agrarian society until the mid-nineteenth century, Switzerland's small scale energy economy was based on wood and biomass (plants feeding the animal and human labour), which was in general renewable energy. Also used were wind power and hydraulic power, and, from the eighteenth century, indigenous coal.

The industrial society, from 1860 to 1950, had to import coal as it was the main source of energy but not readily available as a natural resource. Another important source of energy was water power at low or high pressure. The current consumer society, developed using mostly oil, natural gas, water power (turbines) to a lesser extent, and later nuclear energy. The oil crisis and pollution of the environment prompted the increased use of renewable energy. It is notable that 100% of the Swiss railway network is electrified. The high proportion of energy generated through hydroelectric power and the lack of natural resources (such as coal and oil) help to explain why such a situation is strategically beneficial in Switzerland.

Energy strategy 2050

See also: Energy transition

On 21 May 2017, Swiss voters accepted the new Energy Act establishing the 'energy strategy 2050'. The aims of the energy strategy 2050 are:[2]

The Energy Act of 2006 forbids the construction of new nuclear power plants in Switzerland.[2]

Overview

Energy in Switzerland[3]
Population
(million) 		Prim. energy
(TWh) 		Production
(TWh) 		Import
(TWh) 		Electricity
(TWh) 		CO2-emission
(Mt)
2004 7.48 316 137 179 60.6 44.6
2007 7.51 299 147 164 61.6 42.2
2008 7.71 311 148 180 63.5 43.7
2009 7.80 313 149 182 62.1 42.4
2012 7.87 295 143 167 62.7 39.9
2012R 7.93 298 148 170 63.06 41.3
2013 8.09 311 151 177 63.16 41.5
Change 2004-09 4.3% -0.7% 8.0% 1.9% 2.5% -4.8%
Mtoe = 11.63 TWh.

Renewable energy in Switzerland

The Swiss government has set a target to cut fossil fuel use 20% by the year 2020[4] Most of the energy produced within Switzerland is renewable from Hydropower and biomass. However this only accounts for around 15% of total overall energy consumption as the other 85% of energy used is imported, mostly derived from fossil fuels and nuclear power.

Hydro

Based on the estimated mean production level, hydropower still accounted for almost 90% of domestic electricity production at the beginning of the 1970s, but this figure fell to around 60% by 1985 following the commissioning of Switzerland's nuclear power plants, and is now around 56%. Hydropower therefore remains Switzerland's most important domestic source of renewable energy.[5] Hydro energy was meaning to be taken down in 2013 with new laws on energy to be put in place but they were scrapped for a more eco friendly plan.

Hydroelectric companies received support from the state (for instance in the 2010s). Critics pointed out the lack of independence of the political institutions (cantonal and federal), of which several elected members are connected with the hydroelectric industry.[6]

Wind

There has been a proposal to produce around 600 GWh (< 0.2%) of electricity per annum using wind turbines by 2030.[7]

Solar

Solar potential of Switzerland

Solar energy in Switzerland currently only accounts for 0.04% of total energy production.[8] Currently the cost of solar energy is significantly higher than competing sources in Switzerland such as hydro. As costs of solar come down it is likely to become more market competitive. It is currently subsidised in an attempt to make it more competitive and attractive.

2019 Switzerland announced plans of large scale solar auctions.[9]

Electricity

Main article: Electricity sector in Switzerland

Switzerland's per capita electricity consumption is slightly higher than that of its neighbours.[10]

Production of electricity (2008):[11]

The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) is within the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC). SwissEnergy is a program aiming at promoting energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy with the collaboration of the cantons and municipalities, and partners from trade and industry, environmental and consumer organisations.

A report was published in 2011 by the World Energy Council in association with Oliver Wyman, entitled Policies for the future: 2011 Assessment of country energy and climate policies, which ranks country performance according to an energy sustainability index.[12] The best performers were Switzerland, Sweden and France.

Carbon dioxide emissions

A study published in 2009 showed that the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) due to the electricity consumed in Switzerland (total: 5.7 million tonnes) are seven times higher than the emissions of carbon dioxide due to the electricity produced in Switzerland (total: 0.8 million tonnes).[13]

The study also showed that the production in Switzerland (64.6 TWh) is similar to the amount of electricity consumed in the country (63.7 TWh).[13] Overall, Switzerland export 7.6 TWh and import 6.8 TWh; but, in terms of emissions of carbon dioxide, Switzerland export "clean" electricity causing emissions of 0.1 million tonnes of CO2 and import "dirty" electricity causing emissions of 5 million tonnes of CO2.[13]

The electricity produced in Switzerland generated about 14 grammes of CO2 per kilowatt hour. The electricity consumed in Switzerland generated about 100 grammes of CO2 per kilowatt hour.[14]

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ Notter, Dominic A. (1 January 2015). "Small country, big challenge: Switzerland's upcoming transition to sustainable energy". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. 71 (4): 51–63. doi:10.1177/0096340215590792. ISSN 0096-3402.
  2. ^ a b Energy strategy 2050, Swiss Federal Office of Energy, Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (page visited on 21 May 2017).
  3. ^ IEA Key World Energy Statistics Statistics 2015, 2014 2012R as in November 2015 + 2012 as in March 2014 is comparable to previous years statistical calculation criteria, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 Archived 2013-10-07 at the Wayback Machine, 2006 Archived 2009-10-12 at the Wayback Machine IEA October, crude oil p.11, coal p. 13 gas p. 15
  4. ^ Focus, Expat. "Switzerland - Renewable Energy - ExpatFocus.com". expatfocus.com. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Hydropower". admin.ch. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  6. ^ (in French) Kurt Marti, "Les nombreuses casquettes des lobbyistes de l'hydroélectricité", Pro natura magazine, Pro Natura, July 2016, pages 18-20.
  7. ^ "Wind energy". admin.ch. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  8. ^ "Solar energy". admin.ch. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  9. ^ "Switzerland plans large scale solar auctions". list.solar. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  10. ^ Energy policy swissworld.org, Retrieved on 2009-06-23
  11. ^ Record electricity consumption in Switzerland Archived 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine admin.ch
  12. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-11-20. Retrieved 2011-11-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ^ a b c (in French) TEP Energy GmbH, "Intensité CO2 de l’électricité vendue aux consommateurs finaux en Suisse"[permanent dead link‍], 17 July 2009 (page visited on 6 October 2013).
  14. ^ (in French) Isabelle Chevalley, "D’où vient l’électricité que vous consommez ?", Le Temps, 7 October 2009 (page visited on 6 October 2013).
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