Are we threatened with a blackout in the winter because France cannot connect its nuclear power plants to the grid and Germany does not have enough gas to supply electricity? Not necessarily, says Paul Niggli (65), former manager of the Swiss grid operator Swissgrid.
In an emergency, Switzerland must disconnect itself from the European electricity grid, he told the NZZ. Niggli has experience with the Swiss electricity grid. He spent 13 years at Swissgrid, where he was responsible for crisis management. At the national economic supply, he was responsible for the electricity department.
Switzerland could provide itself with electricity
National electricity grids are interconnected throughout Europe. Also from Switzerland. In this way, electricity that is lacking in the country can be purchased and surplus electricity sold abroad. But if the network goes down somewhere, the consequences are catastrophic. For example, if the lights go out in France because the nuclear power plants fail, the surrounding countries suffer the same fate.
Niggli is convinced: Switzerland could do without electricity from the neighboring country. At least for a limited time – a few months in the summer, a few weeks in the winter and spring. With the large storage plants, Switzerland can cover its own consumption at any time, explains the engineer. And thanks to the pumped storage plants, Switzerland can also absorb the grid fluctuations itself.
Decoupling expensive and complex
But decoupling from abroad is unrealistic. Because Switzerland has no infrastructure for that, as the “NZZ” explains. In the event of an emergency, it must be possible to shut down all lines crossing the border at short notice. Building the necessary transformers would not only take several years, it would also cost a lot of money. Swissgrid estimates the cost at CHF 1 billion.
In terms of foreign policy, the introduction of such an electricity reduit would also be its own goal. Countermeasures are to be expected. Also because important transit lines run through Switzerland and can be cut.
Security of supply at risk
Niggli’s question is not new. In the spring, an attempt by SVP Landsraadslid Christian Imark (40) failed. He called for the introduction of such transformers to be investigated. In the autumn session, National Councilor Piero Marchesi (41, SVP) wanted to know, at the suggestion of Niggli of the Federal Council, whether isolated operation in winter would be possible. The answer is still pending.
The federal government and Swissgrid have nothing to gain from Niggli’s arguments. “An isolated operation in Switzerland would endanger the safe operation of the grid and security of supply,” said Swissgrid spokeswoman Stephanie Bos of the “NSZ”. Marianne Zünd, spokeswoman for the Bundesamt Energie, comes to similar conclusions: decoupling would be a “very unwise solution”.
It’s not the first time Niggli has made unconventional suggestions. Only recently did he make a name for himself because he wanted to ban Bitcoin. Running it consumes a lot of power. (Tom)