No energy for nuclear debate: Axpo boss relies on big solar and wind farms

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In 2017, the Swiss electorate adopted the Energy Strategy 2050 at the ballot box. This prohibits the construction of new nuclear power plants or the replacement of existing ones. But after the Climate Protection Act was passed, votes came out, especially from the middle-class camp that advocated new nuclear power plants.

What are energy companies saying? At the “Aargauer Zeitung”, Axpo boss Christoph Brand (53) calls for a massive expansion of large solar and wind power plants. He places 800 wind turbines and 100 square kilometers of mountain photovoltaic systems in the room. They are easy to make and provide electricity in winter. In contrast, new nuclear power plant construction is extremely expensive and no nuclear power plant in Switzerland will be connected to the grid for the next 20 years. “Nuclear power alone will not solve Switzerland’s energy problem until 2050,” says Brand.

Is it a utopia?

Brand realizes that a massive expansion of wind power is currently unrealistic. Swiss wind farms currently generate very little electricity, only about 140 gigawatt hours. However, by 2050 this number is expected to increase to 3.5 terawatt hours. However, there is a fundamental resistance to the rapid expansion of wind power projects. This means Switzerland will have to rely on gas-fired power plants. But it’s unclear whether these can work with “green gas,” according to Brand.

It is clear that Axpo must now take its own future into its own hands. The concessions of large hydroelectric power stations in various mountain cantons will expire by 2050. After that, cantons can and want to operate the systems themselves. 33 concessions for hydroelectric power plants are ending in Axpo alone.

Source :Blick