Government relaxes water use rules to boost hydropower capacity
The 285-metre-high dam wall of the Lac des Dix, near Heremence in the canton Valais, Switzerland.
Keystone / Alessandro Della Bella
The Swiss government plans to temporarily ease water use rules to allow a number of hydropower plants to boost capacity ahead of possible power shortages this winter.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Reuters/swissinfo.ch/sb
Português
pt
Governo flexibiliza regras de uso da água para aumentar capacidade hidrelétrica
A certain number of hydroelectric power plants will benefit from access to increased quantities of water to produce electricity. Dam operators will be permitted to temporarily reduce the amount of residual water that they have to release from reservoirs into lower-lying streams and rivers under Swiss law.
This new measure will take effect on Saturday and last for seven months. It should boost electricity production by up to 150 gigawatt hours (GWh), the Federal Council said in a statementExternal link on Friday. This corresponds to the annual output of an Aare River power plant.
The regulation concerns around 45 of the 1,500 hydroelectric power facilities in Switzerland. It applies to hydroelectric power plants that received a new usage concession after 1992 and for ecological reasons discharge higher amounts of residual water than the legally required minimum.
More
More
Swiss hydropower prepares for future energy shortage
This content was published on
The severe drought in Europe has hampered hydroelectric output across the continent. What is the impact on Switzerland, the water tower of Europe?
The government said the impact on the environment was acceptable and proportionate to the economic benefit.
“Temporary restrictions on fish migration are to be expected, which may make it more difficult for fish numbers to reproduce in 2023. However, only the long-term application of this provision would have irreversible consequences for the biodiversity, water supply or water quality,” it stated. Various environmental groups had expressed their oppositionExternal link to the move.
The Swiss authorities are scrambling to prepare for possible energy shortages in the coming months. In August, the government launched a campaign encouraging the population not to waste energy amid the expected energy crunch linked to reduced supplies of oil and gas from Russia in the wake of its war in Ukraine.
Last month, the government also introduced a voluntary gas savings scheme in a bid to reduce demand from households and industry by 15%. Measures are in place to boost water reserves at hydropower plants and to increase gas storage facilities.
More
More
Switzerland braces for winter energy crunch
This content was published on
Explainer: why is there a risk of an energy shortage this winter? What is Switzerland doing to reduce gas and electricity consumption?
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Switzerland is Europe’s most innovative country, EU study finds
This content was published on
An annual analysis by the European Commission notes that the Swiss score dropped slightly this year, but not enough to cost it its top continental spot.
This content was published on
Following a drop already in 2023, the harvest volume again declined last year, as the importance of wood chips for energy production has increased.
Women’s Euro 2025 has been largely peaceful so far
This content was published on
After two weeks of football fever in various Swiss host cities, no major incidents have been reported so far, police say.
Planned solar park at Bern airport scaled back after talks
This content was published on
The ground-mounted plant at Belpmoos Airport outside the Swiss capital will be smaller than originally planned, the parties involved said on Tuesday.
Legal action filed against Swiss purchase of Israeli drones
This content was published on
Legal action aims to put an end to the delivery of the six Elbit reconnaissance drones already plagued by delays and setbacks.
Higher direct payments fail to curb scrub encroachment on alpine pastures
This content was published on
The scrub encroachment on Swiss alpine pastures leads to the loss of grassland and damages the typical landscape. It is also responsible for the decline in biodiversity. Despite higher direct payments, the bushes continue to spread.
Head of Swiss financial regulator’s Banks division quits
This content was published on
Thomas Hirschi, head of the Banks division of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA will leave at the end of August.
This content was published on
The Federal Cabinet is forming a special unit to respond to possible energy shortages, Economics Minister Guy Parmelin has confirmed.
Swiss hydropower prepares for future energy shortage
This content was published on
The severe drought in Europe has hampered hydroelectric output across the continent. What is the impact on Switzerland, the water tower of Europe?
Swiss government sets up hydropower reserve in case of need
This content was published on
Switzerland is to set up a hydroelectric reserve at the cost of consumers to insure against possible electricity shortages.
This content was published on
Explainer: why is there a risk of an energy shortage this winter? What is Switzerland doing to reduce gas and electricity consumption?
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.