After the popular vote of June 9, 2024, it was decided to make the installation of solar panels on large roofs and existing ones mandatory by 2040, to increase local renewable energy production. There is also a focus on developing technologies to store summer energy for winter, financing a fund through a small tax on electricity.
The Swiss people have decided to go big on solar energy, making the installation of photovoltaic panels on the largest roofs mandatory.
https://www.franchienergia.ch/it check the financial contributions from your municipality and canton
To make the most of this resource, the Swiss federation has made it mandatory to install panels on all suitable roofs with an area greater than 300 square meters. This measure applies to new buildings, but also to existing ones: in the latter, panels must be added in case of roof renovation or, at the latest, by 2040. Naturally, the obligation will only apply if the installation of the panels is economically advantageous in the long term.
Currently, all new buildings must already cover part of their energy needs with renewable sources, often through solar panels, but now the obligation will be updated to make the best use of every available surface.
The revision of the energy law is moving precisely in this direction.
In this regard, it is essential to develop technologies for seasonal energy storage: solar panels produce about three-quarters of electricity in the summer months, so to cover winter needs, both other sources (such as water, wind, biomass, and geothermal) and new storage solutions are needed. Some technologies already exist, but are not yet market-ready. With a special fund, the State Councils aim to make these solutions commercially accessible, entrusting the task to electricity grid operators, who will have to collaborate with each other. The fund will be financed by a maximum contribution of 0.5 cents for each kilowatt hour of electricity consumed, which could bring up to 45 million francs per year. For consumers, this will mean an increase of about 2% on the electricity bill.
The Commission for Energy, Transport and Environment of the Cantonal Councils, which wants to extend the obligation of solar panels also to the facades of new buildings and the coverings of existing buildings, without surface limits, with a deadline of 10-15 years. The proposal also includes the obligation to equip large parking lots with solar systems within 10 years.
Local Electricity Communities (CEL) from 2026: CELs allow local commercialization (within a neighborhood or even a municipality) through the public grid of self-produced electricity. An extension to several municipalities is not allowed. A CEL can include prosumers, storage plant operators, as well as "normal" producers and end consumers, provided they are connected close to each other, with the same distribution network operator and on the same network level. Each participant must be equipped with a smart meter. Electricity supply companies can also introduce production plants or storage systems into a CEL and thus participate in it. The production capacity of the plants in the CEL must correspond to at least 20 percent of the connected capacity of all participating end consumers. The electricity traded in a CEL is self-produced and benefits from a reduced tariff for network use. The OAEl provides for a 30 percent reduction (15% in case of use of several network levels) and regulates the relationship of CEL participants with each other and with the network operator. A CEL is also open to end consumers with market access: however, if they participate in the CEL, they cannot return to the universal service.
Winter storage
To prevent a situation of electricity shortage in the winter period, the Federal Council has decided on a series of measures.
Energy reserves:
- Hydroelectric energy reserve
- Reserve power plants
- Emergency generators
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If done with lithium batteries, it is very expensive and has a major impact both in terms of land use and rare materials, whereas if electrolyzers and solid-state hydrogen storage are used, even with 21.6MWh plants, the hydrogen solution is the best with about 1.15 tons of hydrogen with 69.12MWh used to produce it—summer surplus from 173kWp photovoltaic plants on a surface of 750sqm and 44MWt (= 5,200 l diesel for heating) available for district heating.
