Focus on swiss turnaround on energy planning (Walter Aeberli)

Focus on Swiss Turnaround on Energy Planning Personal communication from Walter Aeberli to John Shanahan March 11, 2015 Here in Switzerland, we are still under the frustrating impression of the outcome of the long debate which was held, a few days ago, by the Nationalrat on the Energiewende 2050 during more than 20 hours. (The Staenderat will debate this topic in fall 2015 only.) There was a strong alliance including the socialists (intrinsic enemies of nuclear power), the Greens, the Buergerlich-Demokratische Partei (BDP), the Green-Liberals, the Christlich-Demokratische Volkspartei (CVP – which is represented in the Bundesrat by Doris Leuthard who leads the Federal Department for Energy and thus the campaign in favour of the Energiewende) on one side against the SVP (Schweizerische Volkspartei – Blocher’s and Brunner’s party) and about 50% of the Liberals (Freisinnige).

Actually, the main ideas of the Energiewende were accepted by the Nationalrat. And this means, (1) no framework licenses (Rahmenbewilligungen) for new nuclear power plants must be granted, (2) the electricity consumers will have to pay up to 2.3 Rappen/kWh (presently 0.6 Rp./kWh) in order to support the KEV (Kostendeckende Einspeiseverguetung) which is essentially a subsidy for renewable power sources like solar panels and wind turbines. (They obviously want to repeat the mistake of the Germans with their EEG (Erneuerbare-Energie-Gesetz) which has cut down the electricity prices on the European market such that subsidies in favour of Swiss water power plants become necessary in order to cover their production costs.). And, while the Muhleberg plant will be permanently shut down in 2019 (following a decision by the plant owner in view of too high costs for backfitting), (3) that the Beznau reactors have to be permanently shut down in 2029 and 2031, respectively, if their shutdown is not required by the ENSI (nuclear safety authority) on the grounds of insufficient nuclear safety.

To be complete, one should say also that the Energiewende includes the idea of saving (heat) energy in the process of heating buildings and (motor) energy by limiting the CO2 production by motor cars.

But – and this is particularly frustrating – these people completely put away the fact that the switch-over from nuclear power (as a base-load source) to (stochastically producing) renewable electricity sources requires large resources for storing the energy which will be produced by (supposedly) 100 square kilometers of solar panels and about 600 wind turbines in the country. But – how shall this happen? The only reasonable approach is, presently, to build pump storage plants like the Linth-Limmern plant (which will go into operation in 2016 with pumps and turbines for 1000 MW). But, to absorb the excess electricity (some 3 or 4 GW), three or four more Linth-Limmern plants would be necessary ! And there is no place for further such plants in Switzerland, i.e. electricity would have to be imported. But how and via which new high voltage lines?

And all this in a European environment which will, in the next few years, be overshadowed by the discussion about the loss of the Bilaterale Vertraege since the Masseneinwanderungsinitiative (which imposes a limit to the number of foreigners coming to live in Switzerland) got a positive vote on 9th of February this year. (Though, Freizuegigkeit is stressed by EU representatives as being a key element of life throughout the EU.)

Nobody was heard in the Nationalrat’s debate stating that it is not wise to cumulate, in our country, the issue of the loss of the Bilaterale Vertraege with the problems of the (no longer reliable) electricity supply if the Energiewende had got some momentum.

Yesterday evening, in the television show ‚Arena‘, a look back on the Nationalrat’s debate on the Energiewende was made. (You may perhaps find traces on www.srf.ch.) Nobody, neither supporters nor the opponents, spoke about the amount of solar panels to be installed in this country and about the impossibility of storing excess solar electricity on Swiss territory for a few hours or days or week. The brains of these people (idealists !) are simply not aware of this technical aspect.

I hope that the various supporters of nuclear energy in this country will reasonably bring forward their arguments during the time which remains until the Staenderat will debate on the Energiewende (in fall 2015). After that, the supporters of nuclear energy will have to quickly collect 50‘000 signatures for a Referendum such that the Swiss population can definitely decide on the future of its power supply. But if finally the population wants to go a different way with nuclear than dozens of other countries all over the world, then – nothing else can be made. We would have lost our battle.

While we are speaking about energy politics in Switzerland, a word should also be said about the federal vote which took place in early March, 2015. The question was whether the Mehrwertsteuer (tax on added value) should be replaced by a tax on energy consumed, designed in a manner which would provide to the Confederation about the same amount of money (22 billion Swiss francs per year). The votation was a historical 92 percent NO! It was a disgrace to the Green-Liberals who had obviously refrained from withdrawing the referendum when it appeared that it was not to win.