Switzerland outlines 15 Alpine hydro projects for the future
The hydroelectric dam at Zervreila, canton Graubünden.
Keystone / Gian Ehrenzeller
Authorities, environmental groups, and energy providers have named 15 major hydropower projects that could help Switzerland achieve energy security and a green transition over the coming decades.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/dos
العربية
ar
سويسرا تخطط لإطلاق 15 مشروعًا للطاقة المائية في جبال الألب
The projects were chosen for their energy efficiency potential as well as their minimal impact on biodiversity and the landscape, the groups wrote in a joint declaration on Monday. It was the third time that their “round-table” had met, under the coordination of the energy ministry, since August 2020.
Should the 15 projects see the light of day, they could lead to a combined seasonal total of two terawatts (i.e. two trillion watts) by 2040. One, a proposed 85-metre high dam near the Matterhorn in southwestern Switzerland, would produce enough energy to power 150,000 households per year, media reported at the weekend.
The environmental groups involved in the talks – Pro Natura, the Swiss Fish Federation, and WWF Switzerland – wrote in a joint reactionExternal link that the plans show the “still existing potential of hydropower for an environmentally sustainable energy shift”.
Axpo, Switzerland’s biggest renewable energy producer, also welcomed the outcome as an important step, but said it was “not enough, by a long way”: in order to guarantee winter electricity supplies, some 12 terawatts of new energy – i.e. six times what these projects would offer – needs to be produced in the future, Axpo says.
Water works
Switzerland is already quite a hydro-dependent country, with its dams and Alpine reservoirs powering some 56% of the grid. The rest comes from nuclear (35%), fossil-fuels (3%), and other renewable sources (6%).
However, the government has recently warned that the country could face significant electricity shortages in the short and medium term, particularly if an agreement on technical cooperation with the European Union regarding supply is not reached.
Under the government’s Energy Strategy 2050, approved by voters in 2017, the country is also on a course of gradually phasing out nuclear power in order to focus more on renewables.
As for the 15 projects in question, they are not yet approved, and would still need to be given the all-clear by cantonal oversight bodies. Local opposition is to be expected, the Keystone-SDA news agency writes.
This content was published on
Is Switzerland, one of the world’s most environmentally conscious societies, in danger of moving backwards on green projects?
What can be done to protect biodiversity in your country?
Swiss voters are set to decide on a people’s initiative calling for better protection of ecosystems in the country. Have your say on the September 22 vote.
Swiss investigate four people linked to Russian oligarch
This content was published on
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland is investigating four individuals linked to Russian oligarch Suleyman Kerimov.
Swiss government scrambles to deal with egg shortage
This content was published on
From September 1, more eggs intended for consumption may be imported into Switzerland. In allowing this, the government wants to secure the supply of eggs for consumers.
This content was published on
Agricultural research sees new development opportunities for Swiss sparkling wines in the face of declining wine consumption. In a survey, half of consumers expressed a willingness to pay more for local products than for foreign ones.
Locarno spotlights filmmakers from South America and Caribbean
This content was published on
The Open Doors section of the Locarno Film Festival has named the winners for 2024. The spotlight is on the South American and Caribbean regions.
Storm paralyses trains to popular Swiss tourist resort
This content was published on
The railway line between Zweilütschinen and Grindelwald in central Switzerland is expected to remain closed until Friday following heavy rains.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Inside Switzerland’s giant water battery
This content was published on
A new pumped-storage and turbine plant in Switzerland could give a significant boost to the development of renewable energies in Europe.
Revolutionary idea to store green power for the grid
This content was published on
What do we do when there is no sun or wind? Energy Vault seems to have found the answer to that oft-repeated question from nuclear power and oil-industry lobbyists and all those sceptical about or opposed to renewable energies. That question seemed to pinpoint the Achilles’ heel of new energy technologies: the varying yield of…
Switzerland could face electricity shortage by March
This content was published on
If progress is not made on an EU deal, Switzerland is likely to face a significant problem guaranteeing electricity, especially in winter.
Swiss companies told to brace for electricity shortages
This content was published on
The Swiss government has shared its vision for coping with major power outages in a brochure shared with thousands of companies.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.