Switzerland is in the midst of the energy transition and has set itself the goal of becoming climate neutral by 2050. Yet at the same time, a secure supply of electricity must be guaranteed. What does this mean for the Swiss grid, and why is flexibility so important?

For several years now, a fruitful partnership has been developing between Swissgrid and the start-up Gilytics, a spin-off from the ETH Zurich to meet a major challenge in the Swiss energy sector.

Even when there’s little wind, rainfall or sunshine – the demand for electricity will still have to be met after the energy transition. This can be achieved using a range of storage technologies that perform different functions within the energy system.

For those unfamiliar with our line of work, it might seem quite abstract to imagine this process: How is a conductor lifted from the ground during installation?

The Erlenmatt Ost site in Basel is home to one of the largest self-consumption communities in Switzerland, where over 500 people consume mainly locally produced, renewable electricity. The project, which won the Watt d’Or award, signifies the trend throughout Switzerland towards a more decentralised electricity system.

A large part of the extra-high-voltage grid operated by Swissgrid consists of overhead lines. Electricity pylons ensure the necessary stability and safety for power transmission. The grid comprises around 12,000 pylons and 6,700 kilometres of lines. As the regular monitoring of exposed infrastructure is very time-consuming, Swissgrid launched a feasibility study called «Pylonian» in 2021. The objective was to monitor selected electricity pylons around the clock using sensors based on Internet of Things technology.

Lines are switched off for safety reasons during construction or renovation work. The planning of these outages is highly complex and would be unthinkable without a software solution. Swissgrid is applying user-centred design for the further development of its software to ensure that the employees responsible for planning work can be given even better support in the future.

A technical report commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) on the electromagnetic fields generated by power technologies has recently been published.

If the switch to renewable energies is to succeed, there needs to be more electrification and networking of buildings and mobility both regionally and locally. A conversation with Dr Kristina Orehounig, Head of the Urban Energy Systems department at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa).

Electricity no longer seems to be available as a matter of course. We need to change our behaviour in order to utilise this resource in a more sustainable way. A conversation with Dr Christian Berger, research associate at the University of Bern’s Institute for Organisation and Human Resource Management (IOP).

Large solar plants are to be built in the Swiss mountains by as early as 2025. This represents a challenge for grid operators: they have to implement the grid connections.

The new «Experience Energy!» exhibition was inaugurated at the Swiss Museum of Transport on 4 April 2023. Swissgrid features in it.