Energy transition and challenges for wind energy in Switzerland

Maya Jegen, Université du Québec à Montréal

Climate Change and Renewable Energy Policy in the EU and Canada Workshop, October 1-2, 2015

Griesspass, Wallis

Research background study about the social acceptance of potential

wind energy projects in the Eastern part of Switzerland

commissioned by the Swiss government and three cantons (Graubünden, St. Gallen, Thurgau)

research team: Maya Jegen & Rolf Wüstenhagen with Andrea Tabi & Katharina MeyerObjective:

assessing issues of social acceptance in the Eastern part of Switzerland, with particular interest in energy literacy and regional particularitiesMethodology:stakeholder interviews (N=18) & panel survey (N=1095)

Swiss energy policy in a nutshellPolitical commitment to sustainable energy :Energy Article in the Federal Constitution (1990): obligation to ensure an adequate, secure, economical and ecological energy supply, and the economical and efficient use of energyCO2 Act (1999, 2011): reducing GHG emissions by at least 20 % by 2020 (compared to 1990) instruments: carbon tax, emission trading, etc.2011: federal government decides to phase out nuclear energy (“energy transition”) Energy Strategy 2050 in 2 steps:

1. supporting (e.g. feed-in tariffs)2. steering (e.g. taxes)

Electricity production (2014)

Source: Swiss Federal Office of Energy

Energy Strategy 2050: 1st Step use of energy efficiency potential

use of remaining hydropower potential

massive increase in “new” renewable energy:State support (decisions pending in Parliament) - increase of feed-in-tariffs ?- lowering restrictions for protection of landscapes?

Open questions: social acceptance of increasing renewable energy, especially wind energy

Current wind energy capacity

http://www.bfe-gis.admin.ch/storymaps/EE_WEA/index.php?lang=en

Area of the survey panel

Preliminary findings (surprisingly) high energy literacy high support for phasing out nuclear energy high support for promoting renewable energy,

especially hydropower and solar, but also wind

What source of energy should your canton encourage?

Preliminary findings

81% would (rather) agree to a wind power plant in their municipality

highest support among sympathizers of the Green/Social Democratic Party, and among high earners and people under 50

BUT: acceptance well above 50% across the survey sample

49% would even consider the construction of a wind power plant on protected land

Preliminary findings

Choice experiment shows the ranking of concerns:

1. ecological impacts (30%)2. site (23%)3. promoter (21%)4. use of revenues (16%)5. participation (11%)

Veto pointsGiven the political commitment and rather favourable public opinion, why does Switzerland have a hard time boosting wind energy?federalism: overall objectives on the federal level, but 26 cantonal energy policiesmultilevel decentralization and direct democracy: citizens always have the final say in a municipal referendumsectoral policy overlap with diverging objectives and timelines: energy vs. territorial planning vs. environment“regulatory density” uncertainty in terms of planning and investment

ConclusionInstitutional design plays in favour of wind energy sceptics, even if there is no substantial mobilisation against wind power

Calandawind, Haldenstein