PostedAugust 30, 2022, 5:59 PM
SuisseWind potential is “much greater than expected”
A new study commissioned by the SFOE shows that Switzerland might produce up to 29.5 terawatt hours of electricity per year thanks to wind energy.
“Switzerland might produce 29.5 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity per year thanks to wind energy, including 19 during the winter semester alone”. This is revealed by a recent study carried out by Meteotest AG on behalf of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE). This sustainable wind potential “is concentrated on the Plateau, with 17.5 TWh. Each year, the Jura arc and the wide Alpine valleys might produce a total of more than 7.8 TWh, and the Alps more than 4.2 TWh”, details the OFEN.
A partial use of 30% of this potential – “which is equivalent to some 1000 wind installations” – would be enough to reduce dependence on electricity supply vis-à-vis the foreigner. “It would increase the production of electricity from wind power to 8.9 TWh per year, including 5.7 TWh in winter”, continues the OFEN, which recalls that the annual production of Gösgen nuclear power plant (SO) is regarding 8 TWh,
And if the wind potential is “much greater than expected” – in 2012, the last year in which it was calculated, it was estimated at 3.7 TWh per year, it is partly thanks to the technical progress made on the wind power plants. They “are now taller and equipped with much larger rotors, ensuring increased production capacity compared to old facilities,” explains OFEN.
On the other hand, changes have been made in the political framework conditions. From now on, “wind farms whose production reaches 20 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year are recognized as being of national interest”. This makes it possible to “exploit the wind potential in forest areas (14.8 TWh/year) and in areas listed in the Federal Inventory of Landscapes, Sites and Natural Monuments of National Importance (IFP, 3.0 TWh/year )”, concludes the SFOE.
(comm/aze)