Swiss Power Storage

What is a pumped storage plant (PSP)?

Pumped storage plants (PSP) which allow to store large amounts of electric energy by using surplus energy for pumping and releasing energy in times of high demand. The contributions of the various energy sources and power plant types to the Swiss electricity generation are shown in Figure 1.

Does human-made storage capacity decrease in Switzerland?

The reduction of human-made storage capacity in Switzerland is not precisely known or monitored. Em-pirical lumped estimates indicate an annual rate of loss of storage volume of ≈ 0.2 to 0.5 % of the total storage capacity in Switzerland and worldwide, re-spectively (Schleiss et al., 2010; Schleiss et al., 2016; Boes, 2011a; ZeK HYDRO, 2020).

Why is storage HPP important in Switzerland?

With 56 %, the share of storage HPP on the pro-duction is unusually high in Switzerland compared to about one third on the global average. This is favourable for electricity generation in line with the demand, particularly to cover peak demands on short notice.

How much energy did Swiss nuclear power plants import in 2016/17?

In the winter 2016/17, when the generation of the Swiss nuclear power plants was pronouncedly below average, the net import of 10 TWh represented even 39% of the domestic net generation in the winter half year (SFOE, 2019b).

What role does hydropower play in the Swiss electricity system?

Thanks to its flexibility and storage options at multi-ple scales, from milliseconds to seasons, hydropower is the backbone of the Swiss electricity system. Keep-ing its central role would foster the integration of volatile renewable energy resources like photovoltaics and wind.

What role does hp play in Switzerland's electricity system?

HP plays a central role in Switzerland’s electricity system and accordingly also in its electricity market and policy setting. Supplying more than 50 % of Switzerland’s electricity, HP is a central pillar of the envisioned electricity transition.