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Longer nuclear lifetime and solar expansion, along with moderate demand growth, result in moderate imports and a high summer surplus
nuclear
Nuclear extension buys time
With prolonged nuclear life limited solar additions are sufficient to cover demand growth
nuclear
Run existing nuclear longer
Life of nuclear plants is extended to 65 (Beznau), resp. 80 years (Gösgen and Leibstadt)
sun
Moderate PV additions sufficient
Solar additions of a bit less than 1 GW per year, mostly rooftop
power_coord
Demand growth limited
Limited demand growth as efficiency gains in conventional demand partly balancing electromobility and heat pump increase
money
Low system costs
Assumed efficiency gains, prolonged nuclear life and relatively little solar build-out keep system costs low
Energy Mix
Production
Demand
Production
2024
Total generation 72 TWh
2050
Total generation 102 TWh
Demand
2024
Total demand 64 TWh
2050
Total demand 77 TWh

Pros and Cons
Pros:
    Cons:
      The assumed electricity production and demand in 2050

      Pros:
        Cons:
          Transition
          The energy mix as we transition to 2050
          Demand
          Import
          PV
          Hydro
          Biomass
          Nuclear
          Fossil
          Challenges
          people
          Public opinion
          Public opinion needs to accept longer nuclear life (smaller challenge than building new plants)
          renew
          Transition in part only postponed
          After 2050 the existing nuclear plants will reach their end of life and must be replaced
          About the scenario developer
          economiesuisse
          economiesuisse
          Economiesuisse is the Swiss business federation that advocates for policies promoting economic growth. On energy issues, it supports a balanced approach, encouraging both the use of renewable energy and the maintenance of a competitive economy.
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          Axpo Renewables A balanced build-out of renewables, focusing on solar and wind. Green gas as winter-backup

          Legend

          A projection of the energy mix, demand and production for the year 2050 for the given scenario.
          HydroPVNuclearWindGasBiomassFossilGeothermal Other
          D : Demand • P : Production • Δ : Production Surplus
          Axpo Landscape Ambitious nuclear and rooftop solar expansion to avoid landscape-impacting wind and alpine solar units

          Legend

          A projection of the energy mix, demand and production for the year 2050 for the given scenario.
          HydroPVNuclearWindGasBiomassFossilGeothermal Other
          D : Demand • P : Production • Δ : Production Surplus
          Energy Law ("Mantelerlass") Targets of 35 TWh of renewable energy by 2035 and 45 TWh by 2050, plus 6 TWh of renewable winter electricity, of which 2 TWh hydropower

          Legend

          A projection of the energy mix, demand and production for the year 2050 for the given scenario.
          HydroPVNuclearWindGasBiomassFossilGeothermal Other
          D : Demand • P : Production • Δ : Production Surplus
          Business as usual Without increased investments, winter imports will rise to unsustainable levels, making blackouts likely after the nuclear shutdown

          Legend

          A projection of the energy mix, demand and production for the year 2050 for the given scenario.
          HydroPVNuclearWindGasBiomassFossilGeothermal Other
          D : Demand • P : Production • Δ : Production Surplus
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          Methodology reviewed by ETH Zürich