Policy-makers see how the wind blows

Two new turbines are being built at Mont Crosin to meet local demand Keystone Archive

Swiss politicians have paid a fact-finding trip to the country's largest wind power plant at Mont Crosin in the Jura. The visit comes as Switzerland prepares to boost its production of wind energy.

Wind power accounts for just 0.005 per cent of Swiss electricity production compared with about 60 per cent from water power and almost 40 per cent from nuclear power.

The Federal Office for Energy reckons that in the long term, about 3.5 per cent of Switzerland’s electricity needs could eventually be met by wind power if all suitable sites were developed.

Doris Stump, president of the parliamentary commission responsible for Swiss environmental and energy policy, said she was hopeful that parliament would look more favourably on renewable wind energy after the visit.

“I think this was a wonderful opportunity to see how it works, how the people who live with this type of energy react, and how they support this project.”

Almost all of Switzerland’s wind energy is currently generated at Mont Crosin. Four wind turbines, each 45 metres high, produce three million kilowatt hours of energy each year or enough power for 1,300 customers. Two new turbines are being built in August to satisfy local demand.

“The Jura mountains of north-western Switzerland are particularly favourable to wind turbines because good wind speeds are guaranteed and the slopes are not too steep,” said Dr Jakob Vollenweider, director of the plant.

Martin Kernen of Suisse Eole, the Swiss wind energy association, said his organisation hoped to develop five to 10 sites by 2010 “to meet the needs of 15,000 people.

“Several cantons are very interested in promoting wind energy. One site in canton Vaud, at St Croix, would produce five times more energy than Mont Crosin. Canton Neuchatel is planning a large site as well. This summer, one turbine will be installed in the Alps and there are a few other projects which may appear by 2004.”

The main advantages of wind energy are that it is clean, renewable and non-toxic. The drawbacks are the visual intrusion and cost – currently twice as much per kilowatt hour as conventional energy sources, though supporters of wind power say this doesn’t take into account the hidden costs to the environment of non-renewable energies.

“If we compare Switzerland to Austria, which is the same size and has the same weather conditions, we are really backward,” said Kernen. “Austria generates 42 megawatts from wind power whereas Switzerland only produces three.”

by Vincent Landon