Federal Council extends measures for a stronger electricity grid
Published: Wednesday, Nov 29th 2023, 12:00
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The Federal Council wants to respond to the threat of a future electricity shortage by temporarily increasing the voltage of an extra-high-voltage line between Bern and Valais. The Gemmi line, which was tested at the end of September 2022, is ready for the increase in capacity.
The Federal Council announced on Wednesday that increased capacities in the transmission grid will make it possible to import a maximum amount of electricity at short notice and thus relieve bottlenecks in Switzerland. Following the successful test operation of the Gemmi line between Bickigen BE and Chippis VS in the winter of 2022/2023, the national grid company (Swissgrid) is now operationally prepared.
The extra-high-voltage line was built in the early 1960s for an operating voltage of 380 kilovolts (kV). However, it was subsequently only operated at a voltage of 220 kV.
The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) had granted Swissgrid planning permission to increase the operating voltage to 380 kV in February 2022. As proceedings against this are pending before the Federal Administrative Court, the voltage increase can only be ordered by the Federal Council in the event of an imminent shortage, the national government also announced.
If necessary, Swissgrid can increase the voltage on the Gemmi line from 220 to 380 kV within two to four days. This will require a decision by the Federal Council. The ordinances now being prepared would then come into force for a limited period of time.
Together with the line between Bassecourt JU and Mühleberg BE, which has already been converted to 380 kV, this would create an optimally complementary and strong transport axis between the northern and southern borders of Switzerland in the event of an impending power shortage, according to the Federal Council. However, the emergency operation of the Gemmi line at 380 kV could result in increased noise pollution.
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