The 16 hydropower projects are not enough, so Albert Rösti seeks a Plan B

The 16 hydropower projects meant to strengthen Switzerland’s winter electricity supply will not be enough. Energy Minister Albert Rösti is now looking for a Plan B, with higher dams and additional funding among the options under consideration.

The projects were supposed to produce about two terawatt-hours of additional winter electricity by 2040, enough to supply up to one million households. Fifteen emerged from a 2021 round table involving cantons, electricity companies and environmental groups. But many of the plans are now stalled.

The most important project, Gornerli, a reservoir on the Gorner Glacier above Zermatt, faces opposition and must be significantly scaled back. Other projects, including plans to raise the Curnera and Nalps dams, are no longer being pursued for economic reasons. The Federal Office of Energy therefore expects the 16 projects to generate only slightly more than half of the additional winter production originally anticipated.

That leaves Rösti under pressure to close the winter shortfall with new hydropower projects. Representatives of the federal government, cantons, electricity companies and environmental organizations met behind closed doors last week for a second round table. The Federal Office of Energy confirmed only that the talks had been constructive.

Possible additions can nevertheless be identified, particularly in Valais. The cantonal government proposed nine further projects for inclusion in its structure plan earlier this year. One would build a 135-meter dam in a side valley of the Aletsch Glacier and could generate even more winter electricity than Gornerli. Environmental organizations reject the reservoir project, however, because of the area’s protected status.

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We can confirm that a constructive exchange took place.