From 2035, only CO2-free electricity is to flow in Switzerland
Published: Tuesday, Dec 19th 2023, 04:40
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Electricity in Switzerland is to be produced without fossil fuels by 2035. Federal Councillor Albert Rösti (SVP) has adopted a declaration to this effect with six other European countries in Brussels.
Switzerland, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg want to stop producing electricity from fossil fuels by 2035. As part of a Pentalateral Energy Forum, the seven energy ministers and their representatives adopted a joint agreement on Monday evening.
The agreement is important for Switzerland to ensure that imported electricity is produced in a CO2-neutral manner, said Federal Councillor Rösti in an interview with the Keystone-SDA news agency. The Confederation is dependent on imported electricity due to electrification.
Adhering to the declaration is "not a feat of strength" for Switzerland, as domestically produced electricity already comes from decarbonized sources, added Rösti. The majority is produced in Switzerland by hydropower, the rest by nuclear power and renewable energies such as solar and wind.
Net zero by 2050
The agreement serves to achieve the long-term goal of reducing fossil fuels to net zero by 2050, according to the joint declaration.
When implementing the declaration, the countries could shape their own energy mix. In order to take this step, the expansion of renewable energies, including nuclear energy, should be accelerated.
The Pentalateral Energy Forum (Penta) is a structure for regional cooperation between Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Since 2005, the countries have been cooperating voluntarily and developing initiatives for market coupling, security of supply and a CO2-free energy system, as can be read on the Penta website.
©Keystone/SDA
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