Switzerland has potential for almost 30 TWh of wind energy

Wind energy in Switzerland could generate 29.5 TWh of power annually if the country harnesses its potential, and more than half of the total electricity would be produced in the winter months, a recent study shows.

Even if the Alpine country utilises only 30% of its wind energy potential, which corresponds to about 1,000 turbines in operation, it will have 8.9 TWh of clean power per year, of which 5.7 TWh in the winter, according to the study. This will help Switzerland reduce its dependence on energy imports and strengthen its power supply in the winter months.

The results of the study show that most of the potential is in the midlands where wind turbines could produce 17.5 TWh of electricity annually. More than 7.8 TWh per year could be generated in the Jura region and in the Alpine valleys, while a further 4.2 TWh per year could be added in the Alpine region.

The study was conducted by Meteotest AG on behalf of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy.

The country needs to rapidly expand its power supply in order to avoid an impending shortage during the winter. In an effort to do that, the Federal Council of States is preparing a set of measures to create the legal basis for expanding photovoltaic (PV) capacity across the country as quickly as possible to ensure that the demand will be met with green power.

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