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Where will our electricity come from in the future? This question has divided politicians in the “Arena”. The topic of nuclear energy in particular caused a great deal of controversy. Young politician Evelyn Motschi gave the established energy politician Stefan Müller-Altermatt a lecture.
According to the Swiss Competence Center for Energy Research, demand for electricity in Switzerland could increase by up to 50 percent by 2050; especially because of electrification in transport and heating. Furthermore, because fewer electricity imports from the EU are to be expected, Switzerland may face a power shortage. The current war in Ukraine also endangers the security of supply.
When it came to the question of where our electricity should come from in the event of a power shortage, opinions in the “Arena” differed widely.
The federal government’s energy strategy is no longer up to date.
“We cannot close this huge power gap without nuclear energy,” said Evelyn Motschi on the program on Friday evening. For the young liberal it is clear that in addition to the expansion of renewable energies, “short-term measures” are now appropriate: “A power mix is needed.”
The preservation of the existing nuclear power plants is essential. Motschi also did not rule out the construction of the latest generation of nuclear power plants. Her verdict on the federal energy strategy: “It is simply no longer up to date.”
Meeting the established politicians in the main round on an equal footing, the young politician heated up the discussion about the future electricity and energy supply.
Stefan Müller-Altermatt was directly addressed. As then President of the National Council Commission for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy, the Central National Council helped to shape the energy transition and the phasing out of nuclear energy.
A new nuclear power plant comes far too late and is also the most expensive power source that could be built.
Calling for the construction of new nuclear power plants as a short-term solution is illusory, countered Müller-Altermatt. If you include the search for investors and locations as well as the construction of the power plant, a lot of time goes by. By then, the electricity problem should have been solved long ago. “A new nuclear power plant comes far too late and is also the most expensive source of electricity that you can build.”
Motschi countered that renewable energies could not be provided overnight either, and accused the left of a lack of pragmatism. “We have to get away from this idealistic thinking.” It is simply not acceptable to switch off the nuclear power plants now.
Promotion of renewable energies instead of nuclear power plant subsidies?
The solution is “a clever combination of renewable energies that complement each other flexibly,” contradicts her SP National Councilor Gabriela Suter. It is a fallacy to believe that this also works with the “ancient technology of nuclear power”, which produces band energy.
If renewable energy sources were expanded on the available land, Switzerland could produce more electricity than it consumes today. Suter cites solar panels on house roofs or photovoltaic systems in the Alps as concrete examples.
“For years we have been on the brakes on renewable energies,” complains the SP national councillor. The discussion about new nuclear power plants prevents real solutions. “In addition, the disposal problem has not been solved: there is no functioning deep repository for high-level radioactive waste anywhere in the world,” said Suter.
There are also question marks over who is responsible
The latest demands from the economic umbrella organization Economiesuisse were also discussed in the “Arena”. President Christoph Mäder recently suggested that nuclear power plants should be subsidized with state funds if they are no longer profitable for the operator.
“We want technology openness,” specified Monika Rühl, director of the business umbrella association. Any shortage of electricity should be counteracted primarily with hydropower, solar and wind energy. However, if the renewables are not sufficient to ensure security of supply all year round, it must be possible to operate the existing nuclear power plants for longer.
“It’s about not switching off nuclear power plants carelessly and hastily, only to be surprised that we don’t have enough electricity.” The safety of the existing nuclear power plants must always be guaranteed, stressed Monika Rühl.
Switzerland has no strategy for the future power supply.
As a supporter of new nuclear power plants, SVP National Councilor Imark criticized the energy strategy of the Federal Council. This is haphazard. “Switzerland has no strategy for the future power supply.” It is therefore clear to Imark that a relentless analysis of the situation is now required. “We have to recognize the problem before we come to a solution.”
Whether the solution comes with or without nuclear power – the tenor of the audience members in the “Arena” who were engaged in the discussion was clear when they spoke again at the end of the program: “We have to move forward.”