Global Legal Insight: Energy - 4th Edition, 2015

Overview of the current energy mix, and the place in the market of different energy sources

The Swiss energy mix (consumption) is a stable mix dominated by fuel products (52%). The share of electricity is 24%, gas contributes 14%, and 10% are other energy sources such as wood, district heating, waste, etc.

In general it should be noted that Swiss energy policy focuses on electricity, rather than fuel products and gas. This may be explained by the fact that fuel products and gas are only imported (no production in Switzerland); in contrast, electricity is produced and also exported.

Almost 58% of the electricity consumed in Switzerland comes from hydropower plants; nuclear power accounts for 37%. The share of new renewable energies is 2%, and other sources of electricity, e.g. fossil fuel power plants, make up 3%. In 2014, Switzerland consumed almost 62,000 GWh of electricity and produced a net total of 67,300 GWh. However, as electricity production is below