Solar power in Switzerland

Swiss solar potential

Solar power in Switzerland has demonstrated consistent capacity growth since the early 2010s, influenced by government subsidy mechanisms such as the implementation of the feed-in tariff in 2009 and the enactment of the revised Energy Act in 2018. By the end of 2023, solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity had reached 6.4 GW, a notable increase from the 0.1 GW recorded in 2010.[1] Concurrently, the share of solar power in electricity generation has also increased, climbing from 0.1% in 2010 to 5.9% in 2023.[2]

In 2024, the Swiss Solar Energy Association said solar power could be covering 50% of Switzerland's annual electricity consumption in 2050 if current market and installation trends continue.[3]

In 2022, Switzerland's federal parliament revised the Energy Act to streamline the authorization process for new solar installations, aligning with the nation's transition to sustainable energy as it phases out nuclear power.[4]

On February 1, 2023, Switzerland held its first auction for one-off payments for large photovoltaic (PV) systems. 94 applicants received payments ranging from CHF 360 to CHF 640 per kilowatt (kW), supporting a total capacity of 35 MW.[5]

  1. ^ "Statistik Sonnenenergie 2023: Nochmals über 50 Prozent Marktwachstum" (in German). Swiss Solar. 2024-07-12. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  2. ^ "Share of electricity production from solar: Switzerland". Our World In Data. 2024-06-20. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  3. ^ "Solar energy to meet 10% of Swiss electricity needs". Swissinfo.ch. 2024-07-12. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Auction scheme for large-scale solar PV – Policies". IEA. Retrieved 2024-02-19.