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New nuclear and gas plants aim to keep the current import-export balance
Nuclear
New nuclear and gas
New nuclear and gas plants keep import levels relatively constant
valve
Stepwise expansion of Gas
Gas power plants are added in years when existing nuclear plants decomission
Nuclear
Small nuclear starting 2040
Starting 2040 small nuclear reactors of 400 MW are added
energy_export
Imports constant
Scenario first results in stable winter imports. After 2040 they start declining
sun
Limited PV build-out
Comparably small build-out of rooftop PV: 500 MW per year
Energy Mix
Production
Demand
Production
2024
Total generation 68 TWh
2050
Total generation 79 TWh
Demand
2024
Total demand 63 TWh
2050
Total demand 76 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
          Wind
          Hydro
          Biomass
          Gas
          Nuclear
          Fossil
          Challenges
          people
          Public opinion
          Public opinion needs to accept new nuclear plants
          nuclear
          Based on availability of new nuclear in 2040
          Earliest possible addition of nuclear in PowerSwitcher is 2040. That is an ambituous timetable
          sun
          Lowering PV build-out
          PV build-out is lower than current reality. It would have to be (actively?) lowered
          About the scenario developer
          Christian Wasserfallen (FDP)
          Christian Wasserfallen (FDP)
          Christian Wasserfallen, a member of the Swiss Free Democratic Party (FDP), is known for his pro-business stance on energy policy. He supports market-based solutions and technological innovation to meet Switzerland’s energy needs while ensuring economic competitiveness.
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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