Did you know? Two-thirds of Switzerland's energy comes from renewables
Next in our series on quirky and unique Swiss facts, we break down the country’s hydro-charged renewable power system, which produces more than two thirds of the country's energy.
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica}
The big contributor to Switzerland’s renewable energy system is hydroelectric power.
Hydroelectricity alone accounts for 60 percent of Switzerland’s energy, with a further eight percent coming from solar, wind and biomass on the most recent figures available.
This is up from 62 percent in the previous year.
When nuclear energy generation is taken into account, Switzerland’s consumption of fossil fuels is even lower. Nuclear makes up around 15 percent of the total energy generated, meaning the remaining amount is approximately 17 percent.
With the global rate of renewable energy usage at roughly 25 percent, Switzerland is clearly a global leader in renewables.
The country’s embrace of renewable energy is clearly supported by the general public. A 2017 binding referendum which sought to boost renewable energy usage by improving subsidies and ban new nuclear plants won almost 60 percent of public support.
The recent electoral gains of Switzerland’s Green Party shows that the appetite for more environmentally-focused policies has not waned.
READ MORE: Switzerland tumbles down climate performance ratings
READ MORE: Climate change set to cost Switzerland 'CHF1 billion per year'
Switzerland does however have a while to go before it catches up to some of the European leaders in renewables.
Iceland can boast almost 100 percent renewable energy usage, due largely to geothermal as well as hydro-electric power.
Other European countries like Norway, Croatia, Austria and Scotland also boast a higher usage rate of renewables than Switzerland.
Novel facts about the neutral nation
Did you know? The Swiss invented instant coffee
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 14.0px; font: 12.0px Times; color: #0000e9; -webkit-text-stroke: #0000e9}
p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px}
span.s1 {text-decoration: underline ; font-kerning: none}
Comments
See Also
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica}
The big contributor to Switzerland’s renewable energy system is hydroelectric power.
Hydroelectricity alone accounts for 60 percent of Switzerland’s energy, with a further eight percent coming from solar, wind and biomass on the most recent figures available.
This is up from 62 percent in the previous year.
When nuclear energy generation is taken into account, Switzerland’s consumption of fossil fuels is even lower. Nuclear makes up around 15 percent of the total energy generated, meaning the remaining amount is approximately 17 percent.
With the global rate of renewable energy usage at roughly 25 percent, Switzerland is clearly a global leader in renewables.
The country’s embrace of renewable energy is clearly supported by the general public. A 2017 binding referendum which sought to boost renewable energy usage by improving subsidies and ban new nuclear plants won almost 60 percent of public support.
The recent electoral gains of Switzerland’s Green Party shows that the appetite for more environmentally-focused policies has not waned.
READ MORE: Switzerland tumbles down climate performance ratings
READ MORE: Climate change set to cost Switzerland 'CHF1 billion per year'
Switzerland does however have a while to go before it catches up to some of the European leaders in renewables.
Iceland can boast almost 100 percent renewable energy usage, due largely to geothermal as well as hydro-electric power.
Other European countries like Norway, Croatia, Austria and Scotland also boast a higher usage rate of renewables than Switzerland.
Novel facts about the neutral nation
Did you know? The Swiss invented instant coffee
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 14.0px; font: 12.0px Times; color: #0000e9; -webkit-text-stroke: #0000e9} p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px} span.s1 {text-decoration: underline ; font-kerning: none}
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.