“It may be that when Nord Stream 1 supplies gas again, prices will fall again. However, this is very uncertain,” says Urs Meister, Managing Director, Federal Electricity Commission ElCom. Various European countries have recently made an appeal to save gas. “In Switzerland, the water storage levels play a particularly important role,” says Meister. “The nuclear power plants are currently running at full capacity. If the water temperature of the Aare rises to 25 degrees, the performance of the Beznau nuclear power plant will be restricted,” says Meister. However, this depends on how long the temperature of the Aare stays above 25 degrees.
One way to ensure the supply in winter is to create a hydropower reserve. “The purpose of this reserve is to secure a shortage situation,” says Meister. It is important to know that the hydropower reserve does not bring any additional energy into the system. “It is crucial that the water reserve is not suitable for bridging the electricity shortage in Switzerland in winter. It only serves to bridge the gap for several days or weeks,” says Meister.