Swiss energy policy

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The Confederation, the cantons and communes are committed to Swiss energy policy within the scope of their responsibilities. According to the federal constitution, the aim is a sufficient, diversified, safe, economical and environmentally friendly energy supply as well as economical and efficient energy consumption.

history

Beginnings

Energy problems arose in Switzerland at the beginning of the 20th century. The export of electricity from then exclusively hydropower plants had increased sharply and the power plants built the lines according to their own needs. An energy office at the federal level was therefore called for. In 1930 the "Federal Electricity Office" was established. In the 1960s, the duties of this office were expanded to include oil and natural gas. The tasks were still very limited. No proper policy could be pursued that could have influenced the future. With the oil crises of the 1970s, it became clear that a more comprehensive energy policy was needed.

Setting the course for nuclear energy

The year 1963 was a key date in Swiss energy policy. The Federal Council wrote here in its annual report: “The moment has come when we must seriously examine whether the intermediate stage of conventional thermal power plants with z. B. Oil firing cannot be dispensed with and the construction of nuclear power plants should be steered directly towards it. Water and atomic energy would have to be built into a rational system that would complement one another. " This marked the starting signal for setting the course for an energy mix in the power generation sector, as it still basically exists today: around 60 percent hydropower and 40 percent nuclear energy . This latter form of energy was not politically controversial in the beginning, but a more extensive opposition to it did not develop until the 1970s (see e.g. under Kaiseraugst nuclear power plant ).

Federal Commission for the Overall Energy Concept (GEK)

Legal foundations were necessary so that the federal government could operate a systematic energy policy. For this purpose, the "Federal Commission for the Overall Energy Concept (GEK)" was set up, which first of all had to formulate the goals of Swiss energy policy. This resulted in energy saving , energy research and precaution as the main means of achieving the goals. The GEK then drew up an article in the Federal Constitution, which was accepted by the people at the second attempt in 1990. This article has since been included in the constitution , today as Article 89 (heading: «Energy Policy»).

Energy 2000

After a referendum, the “Energy 2000” action program ran from 1990 to 2000. The main objectives of this program were to reduce the consumption of non-renewable energies and the CO 2 emissions. Further goals were to curb electricity consumption and promote renewable energies. These goals were quantified, i.e. expressed in numbers. To achieve the goals, voluntary measures, energy policy dialogues with those affected and financial support from the federal government were relied on. Although this action program had an effect, it required stronger measures to achieve the goals.

Energy Act and CO 2 Act

On January 1, 1999, the Energy Act and Energy Ordinance came into force. Since then, the law has been used to generate economical and environmentally friendly energy, to use energy sparingly and to promote domestic and renewable energies.

On May 1st, 2000 the CO 2 law came into force. This law is more part of climate policy. It sets binding targets for the reduction of CO 2 emissions.

Current energy policy

Nuclear phase-out debate

In Switzerland, for safety reasons and because of the repository problem, the nuclear phase-out was and is being debated with a first referendum on February 18, 1979. Before the nuclear disaster in Fukushima , the majority were against an phase-out. On May 18, 2003, the “MoratoriumPlus” popular initiative was rejected with 58.4 percent and the “Electricity without atom” initiative with 66.3 percent. From 2008 to 2011 (Fukushima nuclear disaster, March 11, 2011), a debate about the construction of new nuclear power plants was ongoing in Switzerland.
The electricity suppliers offered a total of three locations to choose from, all of them locations of previous nuclear power plants . It becomes v. a. argued with the occurrence of a power shortage after the decommissioning of the older plants - Beznau and Mühleberg nuclear power plants . The nuclear opponents emphasize the possibilities of energy efficiency measures and renewable energies. In addition, the cost of generating nuclear power is rising steadily, while alternative energy is becoming cheaper. According to the Handelszeitung, the nuclear industry is dispelling concerns about a funding gap due to underestimated or embellished costs for the dismantling of the existing Swiss nuclear power plants despite the foreseeable lack of the necessary skilled workers. A fund was opened for the dismantling of the Swiss nuclear power plants in operation; after the Swiss power plants have run times of 27, 31, 38, 38 and 41 years, the fund is endowed with 1.3 billion of the 2.2 billion francs that were once charged for decommissioning. In Western Europe, nuclear power plants were last completed around 20 years ago. That the construction of a new nuclear power plant has become much more expensive than it was then shows since 2003 under construction 1,600 megawatt EPR in Olkiluoto nuclear power plant : Its construction was estimated at 3 billion euros in 2005, in 2008 to 4.5 billion euros and 2009 to around 5 , 47 billion euros (8.25 billion SFr ) estimated. In December 2012, the cost was estimated at 8.5 billion euros. At the beginning of 2013, the completion, which was originally planned for 2009, was postponed to 2016. A year later there was talk that completion would not be possible before 2017. These further postponements will also increase construction costs.

Since May 25, 2011, around two and a half months after the nuclear disaster in Fukushima , the Federal Council has been aiming for a long-term nuclear phase - out . No new works are to be built; the existing ones should be taken off the grid at the end of their operating time. Assuming an operating life of 50 years, the Beznau I nuclear power plant would be the first to shut down in 2019, and the Leibstadt nuclear power plant last in 2034 . However, the final decision on the Federal Council's proposal is incumbent on Parliament , although an optional referendum can be taken against a corresponding change in the law . The National Council adopted on 8 June 2011 as the first chamber motions of which require long-term nuclear energy, the Council of States followed in September. The term “technology ban” created by the atomic lobby was voted “Unword of the Year” on November 30th. In the meantime, the operator BKW Energie has decided to voluntarily and permanently disconnect its Mühleberg plant from the grid in 2019 for reasons of economy.

On May 21, 2017, a ban on the approval of new nuclear power plants as part of the Energy Strategy 2050 was adopted by 58 percent of the voters in a referendum .

Opening up the electricity market

On January 1, 2008, the Electricity Supply Act (StromVG) came into force, which is intended to facilitate market opening ( deregulation ). Large customers with an annual consumption of over 100,000 kWh can therefore choose their provider themselves, while small consumers currently have no right to choose.

EnergieSchweiz

“EnergieSchweiz” is the successor program to “Energie 2000” and unites the voluntary measures for implementing Swiss energy policy under one roof. The program promotes knowledge and competence in questions of energy and at the same time offers a vessel for market testing of innovative ideas. Its role is, in particular, to increase the effectiveness of the legally anchored control and incentive systems with information and advice, training and further education as well as quality assurance measures. Cities, municipalities, areas and regions play an important role in promoting energy efficiency and renewable energies and are supported accordingly by EnergieSchweiz.

«Energy City»

Energy city of Risch Rotkreuz

The “Energy City” label is awarded to communities and cities that exemplify and implement a sustainable climate and energy policy. The label is awarded after a successful examination of the community by the independent sponsoring association Energiestadt , an association according to Art. 60 ff. ZGB . The test is based on a complex and dynamic catalog of criteria. In June 2017, 429 municipalities were awarded the label, with just under five million inhabitants making up almost two thirds of the Swiss population. 24 of the 26 Swiss cantons already have energy cities. In 2019, the city ​​of Bern was awarded 87.2 out of a possible 100 points by EnergieSchweiz, the highest rating ever given in Switzerland.

In 2003, «Energiestadt», the Austrian e5 program - program for energy-efficient municipalities , and partners from Germany joined forces to form the harmonized European Energy Award  (EEA) program. Part of the EU is now working on this program.

Promotion of renewable energies

Renewable energies are promoted through the cost-covering feed-in tariff .

A study by the University of St. Gallen published in November 2015 found a rejection of 77 percent to build a new nuclear power plant in eastern Switzerland , but a clear acceptance of wind power in the local area as well.

future

This article or the following section is not adequately provided with supporting documents ( e.g. individual evidence ). Information without sufficient evidence could be removed soon. Please help Wikipedia by researching the information and including good evidence.

Swiss energy policy intends to pursue the basic goals of the two energy programs in the future as well. The goals can be summarized in four points:

  • Security of supply (if possible, no longer dependent on foreign countries)
  • Environmental compatibility (less greenhouse gases and nuclear waste)
  • Economic compatibility (energy costs should be affordable)
  • Social compatibility (nationwide same conditions for energy supply)

If these goals were resolutely pursued, the currently most important energy sources - crude oil, uranium (for nuclear energy) and natural gas - would have to be abolished. However, this would result in a major energy supply problem if sufficient alternative energies were not available. It is controversial whether the energy sources that would meet these goals (e.g. hydropower, solar and wind energy) have the potential in Switzerland to secure the rest of the energy supply. In addition, technical measures to improve energy efficiency are given good chances of partially replacing conventional energy sources.

Hopes for new energies also include hydrogen in fuel cells , geothermal energy and nuclear fusion , which are still in the experimental stage. The hydrogen drive is approaching everyday suitability. In contrast, smaller geothermal plants have been in operation for heat generation since 1985.

See also

literature

  • Susanne Ulbrich Zürni: Possibilities and limits of scenario analysis - An analysis using the example of Swiss energy planning . Verlag für Wissenschaft und Kultur, 2004, ISBN 3-86553-101-6 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Article 89, Paragraph 1 of the Federal Constitution
  2. ↑ Socket - 25 years of the Beznau nuclear power plant . NOK , 1994
  3. ↑ full text
  4. ↑ Alpiq website; see also the angg. Federal Office website
  5. ^ "Exit in manual work" in the Handelszeitung on March 31, 2011.
  6. ↑ Dossier of the decommissioning fund SFOE Switzerland ( memento of the original dated December 11, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.bfe.admin.ch
  7. ↑ Pascal Schwendener: The nuclear power plant prototype burns billions . Basel newspaper . December 5, 2009. Retrieved December 10, 2009.
  8. ↑ The grave of billions. taz, December 19, 2012, accessed February 13, 2014 .
  9. ↑ Delays cause new problems at Siemens. Handelsblatt, February 11, 2013, accessed on February 13, 2014 .
  10. ↑ Finnish nuclear power plant Olkiluoto 3 not ready before 2017. solidbau.at, January 4, 2014, accessed on February 13, 2014 .
  11. ↑ tagesschau.sf
  12. ↑ Switzerland is getting out of nuclear energy. Neue Zürcher Zeitung, May 25, 2011, accessed on May 25, 2011 .
  13. ↑ Council of States says yes to the nuclear phase-out . NZZ
  14. ↑ "Economiesuisse coined this word". Federal Councilor Leuthard on the lobby term “technology ban”. In: Sunday , September 17, 2011.
  15. ↑ admin.ch: Energy Act (EnG). Retrieved May 21, 2017 .
  16. ↑ DETEC: Opening up the electricity market. In: uvek.admin.ch . Retrieved February 17, 2019 .
  17. ↑ EnergieSchweiz website
  18. ↑ EnergieSchweiz website for municipalities (accessed on September 11, 2018)
  19. ↑ Facts & Figures , local-energy.swiss, accessed on September 11, 2018.
  20. ↑ https://www.energate-messenger.ch/news/196506/bern-ist-als-energiestadt-die-beste
  21. ↑ e5 in Europe - the European Energy Award ( Memento of the original from February 8, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.e5-gemeinden.at archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , e5-gemeinden.at
  22. ↑ european-energy-award.org
  23. ↑ Survey of residents of possible wind farms in Eastern Switzerland (PDF) Institute for Economics and Ecology at the University of St. Gallen, November 2015
  24. ↑ Geothermal energy tested since 1985 ( memento of the original from March 24, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.wschmidag.ch