The electricity supply in Switzerland will already be critical in the coming winter. This is the result of a study commissioned by the Swiss Confederation. Depending on the scenario assessed, there could be widespread power cuts lasting from 48 hours to 10 days. Until now, the responsible electricity regulator Elcom has only expected bottlenecks in supply from 2025 onwards.
Elcom warns of power supply shortages
Now Elcom representatives are warning that the power supply in Switzerland could collapse as early as next winter. The reason they gave was the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This would also affect the Swiss electricity supply. In winter, Switzerland cannot produce enough electricity itself and is therefore dependent on imports from neighbouring countries. There is currently an acute danger that these countries will not be able to produce enough electricity themselves due to the energy crisis.
Image: AKW Leibstadt Wladyslaw Sojka, FAL, via Wikimedia Commons
Swiss electricity supply dependent on Russian gas supplies to Europe
According to Elcom President Werner Luginbühl, the supply situation depends on the supply of Russian natural gas. In the entire EU, one third of all natural gas is used to generate electricity. However, Russia has already stopped gas supplies to Finland, Bulgaria, Poland, the Netherlands and Denmark. Although these countries receive only small quantities in relation to Europe as a whole, this adds up to a not inconsiderable amount with each additional supply stop. Switzerland can still count on imports from Germany and Italy. However, should Russia also cut off gas to these countries, it will also become critical for Switzerland.
Situation worsens due to shutdown of French nuclear reactors
The situation is further aggravated by the supply problems in France. There, a good half of the 56 nuclear reactors are no longer connected to the grid due to maintenance and repair work. Elcom representatives do not expect France to be able to resolve these problems by winter. This would mean that France itself would have to rely on electricity imports and would be completely cut off as an electricity supplier for Switzerland.
Hydroreserve to be set up already this winter
According to Luginbühl, Switzerland could be threatened with electricity rationing in the worst case.The Elcom president warns that it could well be that management measures become necessary. Due to the tense situation, the Swiss Federal Council wants to set up the planned hydropower reserve already for next winter. Under this scheme, operators of hydropower plants receive compensation if they retain a certain amount of energy that can be called up on demand in the event of a supply shortage. This can be used to close short-term supply gaps. However, this is by no means sufficient for a longer bridging period.
Elcom is therefore looking into whether the gas-fired power plant in Birr could not already be connected to the grid this winter. However, this would only be helpful if there is also enough gas available. Elcom therefore also wants to check whether the gas-fired power plants can be converted to run on oil in the short term.
In case of emergency, cyclic shutdowns may occur
If there were to be a shortage of electricity in Switzerland, the Federal Council would gradually ban the operation of energy-intensive installations such as saunas, swimming pools, escalators and shop window lighting. In the next step, large consumers would have to save a predefined amount of energy. If these measures were not sufficient, there would be cyclical shutdowns. This would involve the utilities interrupting the power supply to businesses and households cyclically for a few hours.
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