Switzerland Walter Aeberli
Mechanical Engineer (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH)
1. The poor German example. The Germans have established their EEG law which assures subsidies to photovoltaic and wind-driven plants. The results are : (a) German tarifs for electricity are the highest in Europe, (b) There is sometimes too much electricity available and sometimes (due to clouds and missing wind) no ‘new’ electricity available throughout Germany, (c) Germany must not stop the operation of coal-fired power stations, in order to provide a back-up for electricity shortages, (d) Adherence to the Paris Agreement (meeting the objectives for ‘saving the climate’) becomes questionable. 2. In Switzerland, foreseeable electricity shortages in winter. (a) Swiss projects for new nuclear power plants were stopped by the Federal Council in the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster. (b) In 2016, a new wording of the Swiss Energy Law was confirmed by public votation. It prohibits any future project for the erection and power uprating of nuclear power plants. (c) The ideas behind the modified law of 2016 have turned out to be unrealistic. There are too many citizens which oppose local projects of wind-driven plants. Large areas with solar panels will not be installed due to lack of land. Dozens of square kilometers would be needed. (d) Wind and solar electricity are still contributing not more than just a few percent of the total electricity production. Hydro-electric plants and nuclear provide the large majority. (e) Before the 2016 votation, the idea was presented that neighboring countries (Germany, France) will provide the missing electricity in winter, when solar panels and wind-driven plants will be weak. This intention has turned out to be unrealistic, since (i) Germany will stop its nuclear power plants by the end of 2022, and (ii) France needs, in winter, its electricity for electric heating of buildings, and 1
(iii) the chances for signing a State Contract with the European Community in the area of electricity exchange (Stromabkommen) have dwindled after any negotiations on the Framework Contract (Rahmenabkommen) have been stopped a few weeks ago. (f) No gas-fired electric-generating plant is planned in Switzerland right now. All the years between 2011 and 2021 are simply lost!
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