Research for Switzerland’s energy future Résumé of the National Research Programme «Energy» Foreword 3 1 Overview and 4 — 9 recommendations 2 Transformation of 10 — 31 2.1 The future energy system — 14 the energy system 2.2 Stakeholders and their room for manoeuvre — 14 2.3 Challenges of the transformation of the energy system — 21 2.4 Development dynamics — 26 3 Action areas of 32 — 81 3.1 Energy efficiency – a key factor for the energy turnaround — 36 the transformation 3.2 Renewable energy sources — 41 and approaches from 3.3 Distribution and linking of the NRP «Energy» energy sources — 48 3.4 New financing and business models — 54 3.5 A sustainable energy system — 60 3.6 The human factor — 65 3.7 Political steering – from objectives to implementation — 73 3.8 The European context — 78 4.1 Untapped potential in the Zitiervorschlag 4 Conclusion 82 — 91 building stock — 86 Balthasar, A., Schalcher, H.R. (2020): 4.2 Hydropower between investment needs Forschung für die Schweizer Energiezukunft. and sustainability — 87 Resümee des Nationalen Forschungs- 4.3 Population motivation — 88 programms «Energie». 4.4 Need for re-regulation and enhanced Hrsg.: Leitungsgruppen der Nationalen Forschungs- implementation — 89 programme «Energiewende» (NFP 70) und «Steuerung des Energieverbrauchs» (NFP 71), Schweizerischer Nationalfonds, Bern. 5 Recommendations 92 — 102 Bibliography 104 — 107 Annex 108 — 109 3 — 110 Foreword Publication details Under the title «National Research Programme Energy» the results of the two National Research Programmes «Energy Turnaround» (NRP 70) and «Managing Energy Consumption» (NRP 71) are amalgamated and presented together. This résumé of the National Research Programme «Energy» outlines the results from the total of 103 research projects and four complementary studies, as well as the six thematic syntheses and four joint syntheses, conducted under the programme. On the basis of these findings, it goes on to draw conclusions and make recommendations. It is a scientific contribution to the process of opinion formation, to political and specialist debate as well as to the planning of strategies and measures necessary for the transformation of the energy system against the backdrop of Switzerland’s Energy Strategy 2050. The programme résumé was created as part of a multi-stage process. Numerous experts have provided text contributions With the decision to revise the Energy Act and thus as mobility and the role of digitalisation could not that have been consolidated and edited by a science journalist. An echo group comprising eight specialists from to implement Energy Strategy 2050, Switzerland’s be addressed in the required depth. Moreover, in the worlds of administration and practice have reflected on the draft document and assessed it from their perspective. The Steering Committees have further developed and approved the programme résumé. This text is the responsibility voters opted in favour of the phasing out of nuclear the context of the climate debate, energy policy is of the authors. Their assessments and recommendations for action do not necessarily reflect those of the echo group, energy. In doing so, they have initiated the trans- developing dynamically. Recommendations for the experts who have made text contributions, the research teams or the Swiss National Science Foundation. formation of the Swiss energy system – a task of which it might be virtually impossible to reach Further information on all of the NRP «Energy» research projects named below can be found on the web portal at extraordinary importance. With the National Re- political consensus today could gain majority www.nrp-energy.ch. search Programmes «Energy Turnaround» (NRP 70) support in the near future. and «Managing Energy Consumption» (NRP 71) – Publisher summarised under the title NRP « Energy» – the With their work, the researchers of the NRP Steering Committees of the National Prof. Dr. Petra Schweizer-Ries Benoît Revaz Federal Council has tasked the Swiss National «Energy» have provided numerous pieces of the Research Programmes «Energy Member of the Steering Committee Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE, Science Foundation with obtaining scientific puzzle that will need to be solved if the major task Turnaround» (NRP 70) and «Managing of NRP 71 Bern Energy Consumption» (NRP 71) Integrative Institute for Sustainable findings and developing innovative approaches of transforming the energy system is to be Development, Bochum University of Dr. Raimund Rodewald aimed at supporting this transformation and with completed successfully. The syntheses on the main Authors Applied Sciences Stiftung Landschaftsschutz Schweiz Prof. Dr. Andreas Balthasar Bern formulating corresponding recommendations. topics have put these pieces in order and prepared President of the Steering Committee Prof. Dr. Isabelle Stadelmann-Steffen them for implementation. All information on the of NRP 71 Institute of Political Science, Dr. Franziska Schwarz In more than 100 research projects, the NRP individual research projects and the syntheses can Department of Political Science, University of Bern Federal Office for the Environment University of Lucerne (FOEN), Bern « Energy» has generated a wide range of findings be found on the specially created web portal at Urs Steiger Prof. Dr. Hans-Rudolf Schalcher Degree in Natural Sciences from ETH Barbara Schwickert and innovations. These projects make important www.nrp-energy.ch. President of the Steering Committee Zurich/Swiss Association of Engineers Trägerverein Energiestadt, Biel and pioneering contributions with respect to both of NRP 70, Swiss Federal Institute of and Architects (SIA), science journalist, Overall coordination basic developments and practical implementation. The stakeholders discussed in this summary – Technology (ETH Zurich) steiger texte, konzepte, beratung, Dr. Stefan Husi Lucerne The research work has produced findings in namely energy providers, private households, Editor Programme Manager of the NRP 70 numerous areas that are extremely valuable from businesses, homeowners, investors, public Urs Steiger Dr. Jan van der Eijk and NRP 71, Swiss National Science Degree in Natural Sciences from ETH Member of the Steering Committee of Foundation, Bern both a social and political perspective. For example, administrative bodies, associations, NGOs, voters Zurich/Swiss Association of Engineers NRP 70 Support and production it is made very clear that the transformation of the and politicians – are now responsible for picking and Architects (SIA), science journalist, Technology and Business Innovation Dr. Andrea Leu energy system remains a task for society as a up the arranged pieces of the puzzle and pushing steiger texte, konzepte, beratung, Consultant, Dordrecht Team for Knowledge and Technology Lucerne whole that can only be tackled with a combination ahead with the transformation of the energy Prof. Dr. Frédéric Varone Transfer of the NRP 70 and NRP 71, Text contributions Member of the Steering Committee of Senarclens, Leu + Partner AG, Zurich of technical and social innovation. While research system. Prof. Dr. Matthias Finger NRP 71 Dr. Oliver Wimmer and innovation may open doors and pave the way Professor for Management in Network Department of Political Sciences and Team for Knowledge and Technology for further progress, it is the individual stake- Industries, Swiss Federal Institute of International Relations Transfer of the NRP 70 and NRP 71, Technology Lausanne (EPF Lausanne) University of Geneva CR Kommunikation AG, Basel/Bern/ holders and politicians acting on behalf of society Prof. Dr. David Gugerli Prof. Dr. Hannes Weigt Zurich that will decide whether the proposed solutions Professor for History of Technology, Research Centre for Sustainable Translation are adequate and acceptable in everyday life – and ETH Zurich Energy and Water Supply, STP Language Services GmbH, Stäfa are viable. University of Basel Prof. Dr. Peter Hettich Design Prof. Dr. Hans-Rudolf Schalcher Institute of Public Finance, Fiscal Law Prof. Dr. Rolf Wüstenhagen CR Kommunikation AG, Basel/Bern/ The individual pieces of research work looked at the President of the Steering and Law and Economics, Institute for Economy and the Zurich University St. Gallen Environment, University of St. Gallen challenges posed by the transformation from very Committee of NRP 70 Project illustrations different perspectives. The fact that some state- Dr. Stefan Hirschberg Echo group ikonaut GmbH, Brugg Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Villigen Dr. h.c. Lukas Bühlmann ments are in part contradictory demonstrates the EspaceSuisse, Council for Spatial Cover picture credits Prof. Dr. Gabriela Hug conflicting aims encountered during the trans- Planning ROR, Bern Front: Magazine Power Systems Laboratory, ETH Zurich «Energy &» | Energy & Networks formation process. In the syntheses on the main Michael Frank Prof. Dr. Marco Mazzotti Illustration: Studio Wøt topics, the NRP «Energy» has weighed up these Association of Swiss Electricity Institute of Process Engineering, Companies VSE, Aarau Back: Magazine «Energy &» | considerations and, to the extent the research ETH Zurich Prof. Dr. Andreas Balthasar Energy & Fiction results allow, consolidated them to provide an Kurt Lanz President of the Steering Prof. Dr. Frank Scheffold Illustration: CR Kommunikation AG economiesuisse, Zurich overall picture. Despite its breadth and the variety Department of Physics, Copyright Committee of NRP 71 of topics covered, the programme is unable to University of Fribourg