Between January and October 2022, approximately 24,000 photovoltaic systems with an output of 540 megawatts were registered for a one-time payment, the Federal Department of Energy (SFOE) announced on Thursday. This corresponds to an increase of 50 percent compared to the same period of the previous year.
This confirms the trend that SFOE already stated at the end of August this year. This year, it expects solar power to increase by 900 to 1,000 megawatts. This corresponds to a market growth of around 50 percent.
With a production of 960 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per kilowatt-hour (kW) of installed power, the current expansion could account for more than one percent of Swiss electricity consumption each year, according to information from SFOE at the time.
In all of 2022, about 29,000 small systems alone, whose total production exceeds 400 megawatts, should be subsidized in a one-time payment (Kleiv). This results in a payment of approximately 150 million Swiss francs.
Kleiv will likely also be payable in 2023 to all system operators who submit their full applications by the end of October 2023, SFOE announced on Thursday.
The same applies to operators of large photovoltaic systems. In 2022, about 800 such systems with a total output of 230 megawatts will receive a one-time payment (Greiv).
Until the end of October, no application for investment contribution was made for small and large hydroelectric power plants, four of which are sewage treatment plants that generate electricity.
The federal government wants to set aside enough funds for the next few years so that there is no longer a waiting list. For 2023 alone, 600 million francs could be used for photovoltaics.
In Switzerland, photovoltaic will be further promoted from January 2023, with a new one-time fee for non-self-consumption solar systems. This one-time payment will be up to 60 percent of the investment costs instead of 30 percent. It is given by auction from 150 kW output. From 2023, wind turbines and biogas plants will also be financed with investment contribution.
A cost-oriented tariff guarantee (KEV) currently buys 12,086 photovoltaic systems, 666 hydroelectric power plants, 43 wind turbines and 323 biomass plants. In addition, 67 hydroelectric, 422 wind power, 34 biomass and three geothermal projects have fund commitments for KEV. It is paid after the construction of the facilities.
(SDA)