What is Switzerland's pathway to limit global warming to 1.5°C?
Power
Power sector in 2030
Switzerland’s uniquely low carbon power sector relies heavily on nuclear and hydropower, which accounted for over 91% of total generation in 2019, with no coal and only very limited natural gas generation (1%).1 A continuation of historically high recent carbon prices in the EU emissions trading scheme – which Switzerland joined in 2020 – has the potential to incentivise gas phase out. Aligning with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C temperature goal would require government policy to ensure phase out by 2025.
Switzerland's power mix
terawatt-hour per year
In the 100%RE scenario, non-energy fossil fuel demand is not included.
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Graph description
Power energy mix composition in generation (TWh) and capacities (GW) for the years 2030, 2040 and 2050 based on selected IPCC SR1.5 global least costs pathways and a 100% renewable energy pathway. Selected countries include the Stated Policies Scenario from the IEA's World Energy Outlook 2021.
Methodology
Data References
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Towards a fully decarbonised power sector
Phasing out of Switzerland’s limited natural gas electricity generation by 2025 would ensure the Swiss power sector aligns with Paris Agreement compatible pathways. Ensuring the emissions from bioenergy in the power sector are captured and stored would provide a source of negative emissions that could help to offset harder to abate emissions from other sectors like agriculture and industrial processes.
Switzerland's power sector emissions and carbon intensity
MtCO₂/yr
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Graph description
Emissions and carbon intensity of the power sector in selected 1.5°C compatible pathways.
Methodology
Data References
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Investments
Yearly investment requirements in renewable energy
Across the set of 1.5°C pathways that we have analysed, annual investments in renewable energy excluding BECCS increase in Switzerland to be on the order of USD 1 to 4 billion by 2030 and 2 to 5 billion by 2040 depending on the scenario considered. The ‘High CDR’ scenario, which shows comparatively lower annual investments into renewables, has lower levels of electrification and at the global level relies more on carbon capture and storage and negative emissions technologies – which themselves can require high up-front costs and face sustainability constraints.
Demand shifting towards the power sector
The 1.5°C compatible pathways analysed here tend to show a strong increase in power generation and installed capacities across time. This is because end-use sectors (such as transport, buildings or industry) are increasingly electrified under 1.5°C compatible pathways, shifting energy demand to the power sector. Globally, the “high energy demand” pathway entails a particularly high degree of renewable energy-based electrification across the various sectors, and sees a considerable increase in renewable energy capacities over time.
Switzerland's renewable electricity investments
Billion USD / yr
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Graph description
Annual investments required for variable and conventional renewables installed capacities excluding BECCS across time under 1.5°C compatible pathway.
Methodology
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1.5°C compatible power sector benchmarks
Carbon intensity, renewable generation share, and fossil fuel generation share from illustrative 1.5°C pathways for Switzerland
| Indicator |
2019
|
2030
|
2040
|
2050
|
Decarbonised power sector by
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Carbon intensity of power
gCO₂/kWh
|
15
|
1 to
1
|
-8 to
-6
|
-20 to
-15
|
2024 to
2025
|
|
Relative to reference year in %
|
-95 to
-92%
|
-153 to
-141%
|
-230 to
-199%
|
| Indicator |
2019
|
2030
|
2040
|
2050
|
Year of phase-out
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Share of unabated coal
per cent
|
0
|
0 to
0
|
0 to
0
|
0 to
0
|
|
|
Share of unabated gas
per cent
|
1
|
0 to
0
|
0 to
0
|
0 to
0
|
2019
|
|
Share of renewable energy
per cent
|
61
|
83 to
97
|
93 to
99
|
100 to
100
|
|
|
Share of unabated fossil fuel
per cent
|
1
|
0 to
0
|
0 to
0
|
0 to
0
|
BECCS are the only Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technologies considered in these benchmarks
All values are rounded
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Methodology
Data References
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