“In addition to the pandemic-related ‘compensatory effects’ in the second quarter, general economic development, the weather and population development increased consumption in 2021,” said the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) on Thursday.
The total electricity consumption was 58.1 billion kWh in a year where the GDP increased by 3.7% and the population by 0.8%. The number of heating degree days (outside temperature below 18°Ci or 65°F) increased by 15.3% which also contributed to more electricity use as heating alone accounts for 10% of electricity consumption.
Domestic electricity production decreased by 8.2%. Hydropower plants produced 2.7% less electricity while nuclear plants fell short by 19.4% because of maintenance work carried out at the Leibstadt plant over several months.
“Hydropower plants contributed 61.5% to overall electricity production (fluvial power plants 26.4%, storage power plants 35.1%) while nuclear power plants supplied 28.9% and conventional thermal plants and renewable energy plants generated 9.6%,” said the SFOE.
Switzerland imported 2.4 billion kWh more of electricity than it exported (compared to a 5.6 billion kWh export surplus in 2020) and thus had a negative foreign trade balance of CHF258 million (compared to a net positive of CHF293 million in 2020).
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As part of an international agreement with Austria, the Swiss government wants to pump CHF1 billion ($1.1 billion) into flood protection measures along the Rhine over the next three decades.
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After months of debate, Switzerland plans to give CHF10 million ($11 million) to the UN agency this year, rather than the CHF20 million initially foreseen.
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A study led by the Swiss Ornithological Institute in canton Lucerne is helping to better understand the movement patterns of migratory insects.
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The Red Cross and Red Crescent network in Gaza and Israel has lost 22 staff members since last October, the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) said on Wednesday.
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Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel has achieved history by becoming the first Swiss goalkeeper to reach a Champion’s League final.
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Switzerland is planning new hydropower reserves and three back-up power stations to prepare for any potential energy crunch in the coming years.
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