Switzerland
Overview
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| SSS Relevance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very High |
| Market Type | Regulated (partial liberalization) |
| Key Clean Resources | Hydro (57%), Nuclear (32%) |
| EAC System | pronovo GO Registry |
| Grid Carbon Intensity | ~20-30 gCO2/kWh (extremely low) |
Switzerland has one of the world's cleanest electricity systems, with nearly 90% of generation coming from hydropower and nuclear. The combination of Alpine hydro resources and four operating nuclear reactors creates an exceptionally strong SSS market.
SSS Relevance
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very High — Switzerland offers exceptional SSS potential due to:
- Operating nuclear fleet (4 plants, ~3 GW) providing ~32% of generation
- Massive Alpine hydro (57% of generation, both reservoir and run-of-river)
- Near-zero carbon grid — one of the cleanest in the world
- Established GO system via pronovo
SSS-Eligible Resources
| Resource Type | Capacity/Output | SSS Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear | ~3 GW, ~23 TWh (32%) | ✅ Clearly SSS — legacy baseload |
| Legacy Hydro | ~17 GW, ~40 TWh (57%) | ⚠️ Much exported as GOs; domestic residual is SSS-eligible |
Operating Nuclear Plants:
- Beznau I & II (730 MW total, oldest operating in world)
- Gösgen (1,010 MW)
- Leibstadt (1,220 MW)
Note: 2017 referendum approved nuclear phase-out (no new builds, existing plants operate until end-of-life).
Market Structure
Regulator: ElCom (Federal Electricity Commission)
Market Model: Partially liberalized. Large consumers (>100 MWh/year) can choose suppliers; small consumers remain on regulated tariffs. Full liberalization planned but repeatedly delayed.
Grid Operator: Swissgrid
Major Utilities:
- Axpo, Alpiq, BKW, Repower
- Numerous cantonal utilities (EWZ, SIG, etc.)
Clean Energy Policy
| Policy | Status |
|---|---|
| Climate Target | Net zero by 2050 |
| Energy Strategy 2050 | Approved 2017 — efficiency + renewables + nuclear phase-out |
| Nuclear Policy | Phase-out (no new builds); existing plants operate to end-of-life |
| Hydro Support | Strong support for existing and pumped storage |
EAC Infrastructure
Primary System: pronovo GO Registry
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Registry Operator | pronovo AG |
| Standard | Swiss GO (compatible with EU) |
| AIB Member | ✅ Yes — participates in AIB Hub |
| Scope | Renewables, nuclear eligible |
Important for SSS: Swiss nuclear can receive GOs, but many plants sell generation without GO bundled. Untracked nuclear flows into residual mix.
Emissions Factors
| Source | Value | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Swiss Grid Average | ~20-30 gCO2/kWh | Location-based Scope 2 |
| Swiss Residual Mix | ~100-150 gCO2/kWh (imports) | Market-based Scope 2 |
Data Sources
References
- Swiss Federal Office of Energy, "Electricity Statistics"
- World Nuclear Association, "Nuclear Power in Switzerland"