Switzerland is preparing to take steps to support the rollout of solar energy, including solar roof requirements for new buildings, to avoid an impending power supply bottleneck in winter.
The Federal State Council Energy Commission has decided to create a legal basis for expanding photovoltaic capacity across the country as soon as possible to ensure that the additional capacity needed to meet winter demand comes from renewable energy sources.
To facilitate the deployment of solar power capacity, the Commission plans legal reforms to enable rapid implementation of ground-mounted solar projects, especially in the Alps. The regulation will apply to solar systems with an annual output of more than 20 GWh and will exempt such projects from planning and environmental impact assessments. These projects will also receive state investment subsidies.
The committee also decided that from January 1, 2024, the roofs of all new buildings must have solar installations. Construction applications submitted before this date will not be subject to this requirement.
In addition, all appropriate areas on the federal infrastructure system should be used for solar power generation.
These proposals will be discussed by the National Council at the fall 2022 meeting. The Commission hopes that these provisions will come into force in legal form within a short period of time.