English 
Français SWITZERLAND – ELECTRICITY: THE POWER CUT
Switzerland faces the threat of electricity shortages from 2025: the Federal Council is calling on businesses to start preparing now. The cause: the lack of an electricity agreement with the European Union, leading to grid instability.
An energy shortage looms in the absence of an agreement with the EU
What exactly is the problem?
It concerns the lack of an electricity agreement with the European Union (EU). Bern and Brussels have been discussing this since 2007. In 2018, negotiations were put on hold, with the EU linking the signing to the institutional agreement. As the latter has failed, it is likely that the electricity agreement will not be reached on time or may not be concluded at all.
Switzerland lies at the heart of the European electricity grid. It is connected to it via more than 40 cross-border power lines. However, as it has no agreement with the EU, it is excluded from decisions concerning the European electricity market. Problems may arise from 2025 onwards, explains the SFOE (Swiss Federal Office of Energy).
By that date, all European transmission system operators will be required to reserve at least 70% of the network’s cross-border capacity for electricity exchanges between EU member states. Switzerland could see its import capacity reduced. Unplanned electricity flows resulting from exchanges between neighbouring countries could increase and threaten the stability of the Swiss grid.
Three scenarios
Consequently, the SFOE has presented three scenarios based on the most pessimistic assumption. The first assumes a total lack of cooperation between Switzerland and the EU. European countries would limit transmission capacity to and from Switzerland.
The country would have too little energy. Due to low import capacity and the winter energy shortage, water levels in storage power stations would fall rapidly.
The situation would become critical by the end of March 2025. Electricity demand could no longer be met for 47 hours. In extreme circumstances, the supply could even be interrupted for 500 hours.
In the second scenario, the national grid operator Swissgrid concludes technical agreements with its European counterparts. Switzerland is then taken into account in the implementation of the 70% rule at the borders with Italy, France, Germany and Austria. It has sufficient energy at all times, provided these agreements are concluded in good time.
The third scenario is based on an agreement guaranteeing Switzerland’s participation in the European internal electricity market. This is the scenario that allows the most pessimistic situation to be managed in the safest way, explains the SFOE.
Guy Parmelin calls for preparations for possible electricity shortages
“By electricity shortage, we mean a situation in which we have too little electricity for weeks, or even months,” explains Guy Parmelin.
Restrictions not ruled out
In times of shortage, the Federal Council may issue regulations on electricity consumption and conservation. Initially, however, the focus would be on encouraging voluntary conservation measures before any restrictions are imposed.
If cutting back on electricity for leisure activities does not have enough of an effect, the next step could be the introduction of electricity quotas for large consumers. "These companies are therefore being asked to consider how a certain percentage of electricity could be saved whilst continuing to operate to some extent," explains Patrick Rötheli.
Avoiding a blackout
According to Patrick Rötheli, the aim is to “prevent the grid from being shut down for as long as possible in the event of a shortage, which would then affect all consumers”.
If no progress is made, at least on a technical level, Switzerland could face a supply security problem from 2025 onwards, particularly in winter, due to the lack of an electricity agreement with the EU, according to one of three scenarios in a report reviewed by the Federal Council on Wednesday.
DEVELOPMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN SWITZERLAND – THE ‘T’ MOMENT
Indeed, we are at the ‘T-moment’ of the massive industrial development of renewable energy in Switzerland, as our Federal Council has finally realised the vital importance for Switzerland of being completely self-sufficient in electricity production.
What has caused this sudden awakening? Switzerland is at risk of running out of electricity… a blackout is on the cards… and will likely be inevitable if nothing is done.
How did we end up in this situation after the ‘hydroelectric miracle’ developed by our very bold and talented predecessors?
For around 30–40 years, no major renewable energy facilities have been built in Switzerland…
- A superiority complex?
- Resting on our laurels?
- Have we exhausted our achievements?
- Administrative procedures so lengthy and Kafkaesque that they have discouraged our investors, who have preferred to invest heavily abroad because the processes were faster, simpler and more streamlined?
A ‘typical Swiss mix’ of all of the above… But that is the past; it is behind us… Let us learn from our mistakes and move forward into the future!
Electricity: the blackout
The Infrarouge programme broadcast on Thursday 3 November 2021, “Electricity: the blackout”, explains very clearly why we need to invest heavily in Switzerland’s self-sufficiency in 100% renewable electricity:
Presenter: Alexis Favre
Guests:
Jacqueline de Quattro, National Councillor (PLR/VD)
Roger Nordmann, National Councillor (PS/VD), member of the Committee on the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy, member of the Board of Directors of Groupe E
Manfred Bühler, President of the SVP/BE
Jacques Mauron, Chief Executive Officer of Groupe E
Stéphane Genoud, Professor of Energy Management at the Institute of Entrepreneurship & Management, HES-SO Valais
In a recorded interview, Simonetta Sommaruga, Federal Councillor, Head of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC)
CONCLUSION
Presenting environmental protection as something that is expensive and threatens comfort and freedom is a lie that has been repeated for decades!!
Sacrifices ‘for the climate’ and degrowth would exponentially increase economic inequalities and lead to social chaos, because growth is needed to live, to pay social security contributions, and to fund infrastructure. We must therefore integrate ecology into the economy as a driving force and protect the environment in a financially viable way; in this way, we create:
Qualitative growth
We generate economic profit by replacing what pollutes with what protects the environment, whilst reducing pollution, inefficiency and waste…
EnergyPier Combined Energy Plants (Solar + Wind)
The future lies in combined power plants for the industrial production of cheap, 100% renewable and decentralised electricity (fewer losses and lower transmission costs). EnergyPier is the ideal example of this and is technically adaptable to all configurations.
In Switzerland, the installation of EnergyPiers along part of the country’s motorway network could eventually replace the entire nuclear fleet and, in addition to providing 100% renewable electricity, deliver numerous positive externalities that will improve profitability, namely:
- The structure, including the protective wall and canopy, offers the benefit of a significant reduction in noise
- The canopy structure protects the road from snowfall and eliminates the need for winter maintenance, or reduces it very significantly depending on the circumstances (salt, mechanical snow clearance
- The roof protects the road surface from excessive heat and UV rays in summer, whilst considerably extending its lifespan
- The roof surface can be used as a rainwater collector
- The supporting structure can be fitted to carry cables and other installations
- The installation offers the possibility of installing energy-saving charging points for e-mobility
Overall, the system creates a sustainable motorway environment, improves the user experience, reduces disruption to the local community and provides energy for e-mobility.
Sources:
https://www.rts.ch/info/suisse/12228427-le-conseil-federal-enterre-laccordcadre-avec-lunion-europeenne.html
https://www.rts.ch/info/suisse/12566291-an-energy-shortage-looms-without-an-agreement-with-the-EU.html
https://www.rts.ch/info/suisse/12572302-guy-parmelin-calls-for-preparations-for-possible-power-shortages.html
https://www.letemps.ch/economie/cas-blackout-suisse-serait-demunie
