Welcome to IEA Wind Member Country Activities for Switzerland 2011

By the end of 2011, 30 wind turbines of a considerable size were operating in Switzerland with a total rated power of 45.5 MW. These turbines produced 70 GWh of electricity. Since 1 January 2009, a cost-covering feed-in-tariff (FIT) for renewable energy has been implemented in Switzerland (1). This change of policy in promoting wind energy led to a boost of new wind energy projects. Financing was requested for additional 1,938 MW under the FIT scheme. Due to various obstacles in the planning procedures and acceptance issues, only two new turbines with a rated power of 3.2 MW were installed in 2011 (opening photo: Feldmoos turbines).

In Switzerland, an ancillary industry for wind turbine manufacturers and planners has developed, which acts mainly on an international level. The total turnover is about 1.4 million EUR (1.88 million USD). Wind energy research is conducted by the public research institutions, such as the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ), as well as by experienced private companies. Research activities are internationally cross-linked, mainly in the fields of cold climate, turbulent and remote sites, and social acceptance.