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Since Russia turned off the gas supply, the security of supply seems to be in danger. Now an old idea is getting a boost: namely that Switzerland could produce its own gas.
When Patrick Lahusen enters the former gas drilling platform in Lucerne’s Finsterwald, there is a touch of nostalgia in the air. For decades he was looking for domestic gas. Not only did he find what he was looking for in Finsterwald, he also created the small sensation: Switzerland was able to produce its own gas for almost ten years from 1985.
Swiss gas from the Entlebuch
From 1985 to 1994, a total of 74 million cubic meters of gas were pumped through the pipe in Finsterwald, which can still be seen today. Compared to the 3,600 million cubic meters consumed in this country every year, this amount seems small.
Legend:
Patrick Lahusen (left) still remembers the opening of the drilling rig in Finsterwald.
SRF
Nevertheless, the decommissioned plant is repeatedly cited as proof that recoverable gas deposits exist in Swiss soil. However, there is no evidence that extraction is economically worthwhile: the gas in Finsterwald was only able to cover a fraction of the around CHF 30 million in drilling costs.
Legend:
The drilling platform Finsterwald in picturesque Entlebuch.
SRF
Celebrated as a breakthrough back then, there is not much left of the euphoria of the past. The loss-making facility in Finsterwald was shut down and is still the only successful Swiss funded project. However, Lahusen is convinced that there is great untapped potential beneath Switzerland: “We drilled 30 wells at the time and each time we found signs of gas deposits.”
Legend:
A remnant of bygone days: a drilling head, with the help of which the approximately 5200 meter deep borehole was created.
SRF
Controversial fracking
In fact, gas deposits are also suspected at other locations, as data from the Federal Office of Topography show. In order to gain certainty as to whether the gas in the rock strata can be used economically, however, further drilling would be required. Economic, political and geological obstacles stand in the way of such projects.
You would have to go into fracking in many places.
The Swiss subsoil is comparatively impermeable. In other words, in order to bring gas to the surface, the fine pores in the rock strata would first have to be opened: “You would have to go into fracking in many places,” says Lahusen.
This controversial technique uses sand and chemicals to force liquid underground. This will break up the rock. The sand keeps the resulting fractures open to allow gas to freely flow out of the ground.
Theoretically, fracking would be allowed in most places, as a survey by SRF News among the cantons shows. Only a few regions, such as the canton of Vaud, have an explicit ban or moratorium. There was legal intervention after an exploration well had taken place in the canton, which was intended to clarify the potential of the gas depot suspected there.
Let’s promote the gas on our doorstep.
Now a civil alliance wants to reverse the decision from back then. Marc-Olivier Buffat, President of the Vaudois FDP, assumes that gas will be dependent on us for at least another ten years anyway: “That’s why it makes sense that we promote gas on our own doorstep instead of being dependent.” The local politician reckons that because of the existing infrastructure in some areas, the company would be ready to produce its own gas in as little as two years. And: The gas can be pumped without environmentally harmful chemicals, since it is so-called “tight gas”.
Gas industry hits the brakes
Gas production in Switzerland: That’s not an option, says green energy politician Kurt Egger. On the one hand, he warns of the major risks that this would pose to drinking water. In addition, it makes no sense to invest in a fuel that has no future against the background of the Swiss climate goals: “We have to invest in renewable energy sources.”
Legend:
The gas tanks of Erdgas Ostschweiz AG, one of five regional companies in Switzerland.
Keystone/Alexandra Wey
The Federal Council also states that the time for domestic natural gas is over. In contrast to Lahusen and Buffat, the Federal Office of Energy expects that it would take at least seven years from the planning of a new plant to gas production. In addition, any projects could be additionally delayed by objections.
The Swiss gas industry is committed to the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
The Association of the Swiss Gas Industry also has concerns. This summer, he decided to get away from natural gas altogether. On its website, he states: “The Swiss gas industry is committed to the net-zero target for greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 at the latest and has been actively promoting corresponding measures for a long time.” The association promotes hydrogen, for example, and assumes that the current gas network will be converted to climate-neutral gas by 2040 at the latest. Thanks to the so-called “power-to-gas” technology, excess electricity that is produced by photovoltaic systems at midday, for example, can be used to produce hydrogen.
Legend:
According to the Association of the Swiss Gas Industry, the current gas network should be converted to hydrogen by 2040.
Keystone/Christian Beutler
Completely away from natural gas – for Patrick Lahusen this attitude is incomprehensible. There are seven projects that were shelved at the time and now – due to the impending shortage – could be brought out again: “That would be worth examining, not least because of the changed situation caused by the Ukraine war.” Lahusen assures that they have data on possible gas deposits as well as potential investors for new production projects.
Legend:
The gas pipeline in Finsterwald: Today it is a monument to the only Swiss gas drilling platform that was used for production.
SRF
The impending shortage is awakening new desires for the dormant gas potential beneath Swiss soil. The fact that the sensation of Finsterwald will be repeated seems – as of today – not very realistic, especially from climate policy considerations.