nuclear-news

Switzerland develops strategy to exit nuclear power

Gas to fill initial gap in Swiss nuclear exit  
* Expects to build new gas plants to meet demand

* Switzerland unveils energy strategy to 2050

By Emma Farge GENEVA, Sept 28 (Reuters) – Switzerland would have to charge higher
end-user power prices and resort to new gas-fired plants to fill the supply gap created by its planned nuclear phase-out prompted by Japan’s Fukushima accident, the Swiss energy ministry said on Friday.

The country, which voted last May to phase out nuclear by 2034, on Friday unveiled an ambitious energy strategy intended as a road map for coping with the transition.
“It will be necessary to temporarily develop electricity from fossil fuels… until the energy needs can be completely covered by renewable energy,” the energy ministry said in a statement on Switzerland’s new strategy through to 2050….. The Swiss strategy, part of a public consultation, envisages a greater role for hydropower and renewables
as part of its new strategy. It includes targets for hydropower production of 37,400 GWH and renewable energy production of 11,940 GWH by 2035.

The strategy also includes several measures designed to accelerate the process of obtaining permits for renewable energy projects….

September 29, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, Switzerland