This is how Switzerland benefits from the sun: What you need to know about solar energy and expansion

How much solar energy is actually needed?

A few years ago the federal government created scenarios for a climate-neutral Switzerland in 2050. As a result, the share of solar energy will be 34 terawatt hours in 2050.

The new electricity law, which passed the Parliament last fall and which we will vote on in June 2024, sets even more ambitious renewable energy targets. By 2035, renewable energies (excluding hydropower) are expected to provide 35 terawatt hours of electricity per year, and even 45 terawatt hours by 2050. The proposal does not specify how much of this should come from solar energy.

How much electricity does the sun provide in Switzerland today?

Solar energy is booming. In recent years, many new systems have been built, especially on roofs. The federal government and the Swissolar industry association expect six terawatt hours of production in 2024, primarily in buildings. This means that approximately twelve percent of the potential of roof areas is used. This means that solar energy could account for around ten percent of Swiss electricity consumption.

Why do politicians and power companies so desperately want to build solar parks in the Alps?

During the summer months, Switzerland produces more electricity than it consumes. However, since it is not enough in winter, it has to import electricity. In the future, the demand for electricity will be even higher, especially during the winter months, as many oil and gas heating systems are being replaced by electrically powered heat pumps. There are more and more electric cars on the roads.

Solar energy can be produced in the mountains to be less dependent on imports in winter. The systems here provide large amounts of electricity, especially in the cold season, as they are located above the fog, solar radiation is high and rays reflected from the snow are added. According to the Federal Energy Administration, only half as many solar modules are needed in the Alps as in low-lying areas to produce the same amount of electricity in winter. But there is no either/or, both are needed.

How are communities tapping into their solar energy potential?

Felsberg GR is great, Andermatt UR is a flop: Progress in the energy transition is made transparent on a website managed by the Federal Energy Agency. There you can see on the map how much solar energy potential each community has and how much of it they are currently using effectively.

For example, Felsberg in the canton of Grisons uses almost 26 percent of its solar energy potential, while Andermatt in the canton of Uri uses only 0.05 percent. There is no solar energy in the municipalities of Bedretto, Bosco, Linescio and Zwischbergen. Of 2,131 communities, 1,780 use less than 10 percent of their solar energy potential. Only 17 communities use more than 20 percent of it.

Big cities are not at the forefront. St. Gallen had the best performance with 7.9 percent. Zurich, Bern, Basel, Lucerne and Lausanne use 4 to 6 percent of their potential. Lugano is just below it with 3.7, and Geneva is a distant second with 2 percent.

But the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Several factors affect the pace of solar expansion, including available space, the age of homes, and whether there are more renters or more homeowners living in the area. Conditions can also lead to extraordinary outliers: The community of Onnens, a community of 500 people in the canton of Vaud, tops the list with an incredible 59.5 percent of its solar energy potential being used. A former cigarette factory in Switzerland has the largest solar energy system; 31,000 panels are the size of seven football fields.

What are the obstacles to the expansion of solar energy in Switzerland?

The Federal Energy Administration thinks plumbers are under particular pressure. Solar power systems are becoming increasingly attractive as the costs of photovoltaics are falling and electricity prices are rising. Therefore, it is important to train workers. Two new vocational training courses will be offered from next summer: EBA solar installer (two years) and EFZ solar installer (three years).

There are also administrative hurdles that hinder the expansion of solar energy. It is aimed to eliminate some of these with the new electricity law that will be voted on in June 2024. David Stickelberger of the trade association Swissolar says one of the most important innovations is that the law supports local electric communities. This means that the electricity produced can be used domestically. Additionally, a minimum tariff should be imposed on excess electricity. This evenly regulates the price at which it can be sold.

What does research do?

Switzerland is an international leader in solar energy research. Studies are being carried out to increase the efficiency of solar cells so that they can use more solar energy and convert it into electricity. The better this works, the less space is needed to generate electricity.

Another important issue is the storage of solar energy. “Batteries for short-term storage of hours and days are currently making huge progress; costs are falling, performance is increasing,” says Michel Haller, head of research at the Institute of Solar Energy Technology at the University of Applied Sciences in Eastern Switzerland. “However, we are currently making the greatest effort in research and development to improve long-term storage of solar energy over months (i.e. summer to winter).”