Voluntary 15 percent gas savings target likely to be achieved
Published: Wednesday, Jan 31st 2024, 14:10
Updated At: Wednesday, Jan 31st 2024, 14:11
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Swiss households and companies consumed less gas in the first half of winter than in corresponding periods in previous years - not least thanks to the warm temperatures. According to the Federal Council, the voluntary savings target of 15 percent should be achieved.
From October to December 2023, around 71 percent of the targeted total volume has already been saved, according to a press release issued on Wednesday. The savings target should be achieved by the end of March 2024 at the latest.
According to the Federal Council, the above-average warm temperatures in October and December, the still high end customer prices and awareness of the tense gas supply situation are likely to have contributed to the reduction in gas consumption. Due to the current situation, there is no need to take any additional measures to save gas for the current winter.
In Switzerland, around three quarters of annual gas consumption is used to heat buildings in the winter months from the beginning of October to the end of March. The voluntary savings target of 15 percent should therefore be achieved through voluntary savings measures in households, industry, services and administration.
The gas savings target was clearly exceeded last winter. A total of 5819 gigawatt hours or around 22 percent less was consumed. Even adjusted for the weather, the target would have been achieved.
Extension soon to be an issue
Switzerland had joined in solidarity with the EU's new gas savings target in order to prevent bottlenecks in energy supply. Accordingly, gas demand is to be reduced by 15 percent compared to the average consumption of the past five years.
The responsible departments analyze the development of the situation and gas consumption on an ongoing basis. If there are signs of a deterioration in the supply situation, the Federal Council could, for example, recommend switching dual-fuel systems from gas to oil.
The EU will decide at the beginning of March 2024 whether it will continue the voluntary reduction target. Switzerland will then decide whether it will also extend its voluntary target, as the Federal Council wrote.
Switzerland is completely dependent on gas imports and would be directly affected by a gas shortage in Europe. According to the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE), a saving of 15 percent corresponds to around four terawatt hours (TWh).
Electricity savings target for 2022/2023 missed
The Federal Council continues to refrain from launching a broad energy-saving campaign. The EU has also not set itself an energy-saving target for this year.
Last winter, Switzerland saved significantly less electricity than hoped. It fell well short of the 10 percent electricity savings target. However, the targeted savings were achieved at peak load times.
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