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The Federal Council wants to act to ensure that there is no electricity shortage. Hydropower reserves and new gas-fired power plants play a role in this. How suitable these recipes are, however, is controversial.
Two last reserves should protect Switzerland from a blackout in an emergency: a hydropower reserve and gas-fired power plants. The Federal Council already proposed an ironclad hydropower emergency ration by law last summer.
Now, however, he wants to have one ready by decree next winter. Energy Minister Simonetta Sommaruga: “We rely on two additional insurance policies. And as with all insurance, the goal here is that you don’t need it if possible. But they give additional security.”
The Federal Council obviously sees an urgent need for action when it comes to the power supply. The triggers for this are, on the one hand, the warnings from the Electricity Commission (Elcom), which have long been clearly and since last autumn very specifically point to possible risks of supply bottlenecks in winter.
Intended as a safety net
Because after the Federal Council’s no to the framework agreement, there is still no electricity agreement with the EU. On the other hand, the current situation is very unstable, says Sommaruga; for example in view of the tensions in Ukraine or the failure of nuclear power plants in France. Elcom is now proposing two to three gas-fired power plants as a safety net.
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Electricity could be scarce as early as 2025 – in the worst case for a few weeks. In autumn, Elcom warned of the worst-case scenario. Since then, security of power supply has been one of the major political issues.
key stone
This idea is not new: gas power is part of the energy strategy that the electorate has approved. Today, the Federal Council is emphasizing that gas-fired power plants should only be operated for a short period of time in emergencies and that they should definitely be climate-neutral.
Building gas-fired power plants and burning natural gas that is only climate-neutral on paper is absurd in view of the climate crisis.
Nevertheless, Marie Seidel from the WWF states: “In view of the climate crisis, building gas-fired power plants and burning natural gas that is only climate-neutral on paper is absurd.” Rather, the expansion of solar systems and the rehabilitation of hydroelectric power plants must be promoted.
trade association skeptical
In addition, gas-fired power plants increase Switzerland’s dependence on other countries, specifically Russia, the trade association objects. However, it is also controversial how easily gas-fired power plants could be built at all. Such projects have provoked resistance in the past.
Even now, objections could slow down construction, as Elcom President Werner Luginbühl himself says: “There is a risk. Not all, but a relatively large number of cantons have a regulation in the law according to which gas power plants can be built, but only if the heat is dissipated. At the time, no one thought of a solution like the one we are discussing today.”
In such a case, referendums would also be conceivable, says Luginbühl. In any case, it must be guaranteed that the gas-fired power plants only run in emergencies and not in continuous operation, according to the Conference of Cantonal Energy Directors (EnDK).
operators can be found
Despite the hurdles, there are probably already operators who would bid for the tender for a gas-fired power plant, according to the Association of Swiss Electricity Companies.
Nadine Brauchli, head of the energy department, expects that the operation, the construction and probably also the project planning will break even. “Even if there are delays due to objections, for example. I therefore assume that operators will be able to be found there.”
Parties welcome proposal
The association supports the Federal Council’s proposal in principle. New gas-fired power plants could also win a majority among the parties – as the very last network to ensure the security of the electricity supply and if the expansion of renewable energies is pushed ahead at the same time.