Report: Switzerland should get through the winter without electricity restrictions
While Switzerland still faces an acute energy crisis, it should be able to get through the winter with enough energy, a new study aims to show.
This content was posted on October 29, 2022 – 4:24 PM
Switzerland-at-weekend/sb
That Switzerland at the weekend newspaper reportedexternal link on Saturday that, according to a study by the Federal Office of Energy, the electricity company Swissgrid and the Federal Electricity Commission (Elcom), bans and restrictions on energy consumption should not be necessary to help the country through the cold season.
The as yet unpublished study “System Adequacy” has developed four scenarios for this winter. In the case of three of these, Switzerland should survive without bans, quotas or grid cuts thanks to a combination of energy-saving measures by the population and savings and reserves from the federal government.
According to the study, the power supply situation is tense for this winter, but should be brought under control.
The biggest risk is a gas shortage. But thanks to hydropower reserves and planned reserve power plants, Switzerland should be able to avoid major problems.
But the alpine country is not out of the woods. Economics Minister Guy Parmelin has warned of this on several occasions The energy crisis will last several yearsexternal link.
But that could be difficult in the winter of 2023/2024, the report says. The situation could worsen as Europe’s gas storage facilities are expected to be empty after this winter and very difficult to refill in the summer.
The Swiss authorities have been preparing for possible energy shortages in recent months. In August, the government launched one campaignexternal link Encourage people not to waste energy amid expected energy shortages related to reduced oil and gas supplies from Russia after the war in Ukraine.
In August, the government also introduced Voluntary gas saving programexternal link to reduce domestic and industrial demand by 15%. Measures are being taken to increase water reserves at hydroelectric power plants and increase gas storage capacities. Ten days ago the Swiss government submit plansexternal link To create reserve power plants to support the country’s energy supply in winter.
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