Public service Solar energy soon to cover over ten percent of electricity demand

This year, solar energy is set to cover more than ten percent of Switzerland's total electricity demand for the first time. This corresponds to more electricity than the Beznau nuclear power plant supplies, the Swiss Solar Energy Association announced on Friday.

Since 2020, the Swiss photovoltaic market has been on a steep growth trajectory with annual growth of over 40 percent, the association added. The trend was reinforced in 2022 by the energy shortage, which led to growth of 58%.

Forecasts were also exceeded last year: Photovoltaic expansion increased by 51 percent to 1641 megawatts. The Swiss Solar Energy Association (Swissolar) refers to figures from the solar energy statistics of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE). Eight percent of Switzerland's total electricity demand was supplied by solar panels at the end of last year.

Annual production amounted to 4,624 gigawatt hours (GWh), which roughly corresponds to the annual consumption of 1.4 million four-person households or 80 percent of the annual production of both reactors at the Beznau nuclear power plant, the report continued.

"Solar expansion currently supplies 2 to 3 percent more of Switzerland's electricity needs every year. By 2050, solar power will be able to cover 50 percent of annual demand despite rising consumption," Swissolar CEO Matthias Egli was quoted as saying in the press release. This will make solar power "the second pillar of our electricity supply alongside hydropower".

SDA