Unstoppable into the Age of Electricity

Text: Bruno Habegger, energieinside.ch

Slow? Too slow? Switzerland's energy system is changing, but is there enough time to be CO2-neutral by 2050? Opinions differ, but given the complexity of the undertaking, we have actually come quite far. Many actors are involved in this open-heart surgery on an industry whose reliability is vital to both the economy and society. Powertage 2026 covers the central themes of the energy system transformation.

Switzerland's electricity supply is under pressure: the expansion of renewable energies, increasing electrification, and growing system complexity present new challenges for grid operation, the market, and regulation.

Technological shifts take time

Technological changes always breed fears and discussions about whether new methods and techniques are sufficient or whether it is better to stick with the tried and tested. This is also true in other sectors of the economy. The first personal computers were rejected by an industry that had just gotten used to mainframes; Kodak missed out on digital photography, and Nokia on the touchscreen.

If Switzerland had yielded to the anxiety of the old system back then, we would still be heating with coal or lighting lanterns for the walk home. Instead, the hydropower boom began, interrupted only by the civil use of nuclear power in the 1960s. This, in turn, fueled solar energy a decade later, which is growing annually and has now overtaken fossil fuels on the investor side: according to the latest report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), capital flows are permanently shifting towards renewable energies.

In the last five years, 2300 GW of capacity has been installed. Globally, the installed capacity of renewable energies is expected to increase by almost 4,600 GW between 2025 and 2030. "Low module costs, comparatively efficient licensing procedures, and broad social acceptance are accelerating the spread of solar energy," writes the IEA. Matthias Egli, Managing Director of Swissolar, agrees: "Successful projects are characterized not only by intelligent technology but also by clear procedures, early communication, local acceptance, and reliable framework conditions."

Hydropower still dominates

On a small scale, this global trend seems to arrive only with a delay. For decades, Switzerland was used to sourcing electricity from a clearly defined supply chain, at the origin of which were large power production facilities. With the emergence of decentralized production on Switzerland's roofs and facades, the system began to change—back to the roots, so to speak, because hydropower was also a decentralized form of electricity generation in its beginnings. In 1914, there were over 6,700 small hydropower plants in Switzerland. Due to new large-scale power plants, the number has dropped to over 1,400 today.

As recently as the beginning of the 1970s, almost 90% of domestic electricity production came from hydropower. This share decreased to around 60% by 1985 with the commissioning of Swiss nuclear power plants and stands at around 58.5% today. Hydropower thus remains the most important domestic source of renewable energy.

Today, highly diverse forms of solar energy complement hydropower. Large-scale power plants are being built in the Alps, making an important contribution to covering the winter electricity gap, however: "They are generational projects, and profitability remains a major challenge even with 60% investment contributions," says Gian Paolo Lardi, Board Member and Managing Director of Madrisa Solar, the Solarexpress project that went online a few months ago.

Return to a decentralized system

We are still struggling a bit with the new shift toward decentralization and the beginning "Age of Electricity." It’s all a matter of imagination: cultural and media scientist Jörg Metelmann introduced "Imagineering" to the Powertage floor two years ago in his much-noted lecture. Imagineering combines vision with implementation. "We lack a bit of a sense of possibility," he stated in an interview with energie inside. No wonder, as the system's complexity is increasing, both technologically and financially.

Everything becomes flexibility: production and consumers adjust to the technical needs of the power grid to stay in the 50 Hz balance, following the beat of electricity availability and market prices. This requires data, even in the low-voltage range, which has been a blind spot until now. "Much here is still based on assumptions," says Dieter Maurer from Siemens Switzerland (June 17, 09:00, Forum). "Transparency of energy flows is very important, however." Christian Schubert, Managing Director of ME2C GmbH, will lecture on the practical use of flexibilities (June 17, 14:30, Speakers Corner).

Transparency is being established through the ongoing rollout of smart meters and more consumption and production data. Control is handled by information technologies. This, however, opens up new surfaces for attack (June 16, 2026, 11:00; June 17, 2026, 15:30, Speakers Corner). Yet digital grid management also creates resilience: with integrated platforms, real-time data, and automated decisions. Kai Schlabitz, Digital Grid Leader DACH at Schneider Electric, will explain how this works on Thursday, June 18 at 13:30 in the Speakers Corner.

Daring more market

Imagineering would likely work wonders in public administration, which governs regulation. The energy system transformation—how much regulation does it need? Rather less, writes Jan Flückiger, Head of Public Affairs at the Association of Swiss Electricity Companies (VSE), in his online column: "How do we as a society want to finance the transformation—and how can we use market opening and competition to give renewables further momentum? A first, important step is to cut old ties and do without unnecessary regulations in basic supply." And to find a connection, as Urs Meister, Managing Director of ElCom, will elaborate on the first day of Powertage: "Stronger integration of Swiss short-term markets into European ones would increase their efficiency."
The electricity agreement currently being discussed in Bern as part of Bilateral III envisages market opening, now also for consumers below the 100 MWh threshold. A look across the border—where markets have long been liberalized—shows how quickly neighboring states are pushing the expansion of wind, solar, and hydropower. In Germany, nuclear power plants have long been offline, and renewables have taken over the scepter of supply security.
"The real obstacle," says Jan Flückiger, "are the long procedures, appeals, and locally organized resistance." A panel at this year’s Electricity Congress illustrated how dramatic the effects are. It clearly showed that the regulatory framework is exerting increasing pressure on the industry. Implementing new requirements from the Electricity Act requires significant resources and causes unpredictable costs, which consumers ultimately bear. Robert Itschner, CEO of BKW, referred to the increasing complexity: "The industry is suffocating under regulations."

Daring more locally

Loosening this stranglehold would also be important for another reason. Werner Jauch, CEO of the energieUri Group, points this out: "Decentralized energy production such as wind and hydropower not only provides valuable winter energy but also creates concrete recurring added value on-site—for example, through contracts for local businesses or operating companies. The population benefits directly, which strengthens the acceptance of such energy projects." Electricity should be used as close as possible to where it is generated. This can be achieved through storage, energy management, and local consumption models. "Decentralized production is successful when it is conceived locally and implemented intelligently," says Matthias Egli from Swissolar. Werner Jauch summarizes: "The challenges and solutions are known—now it takes courage, perseverance, and a willingness to innovate."

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Specialist forums show the spectrum of energy system transformation

The three specialist forums at Powertage 2026 bridge the gap from regulation and technical requirements to concrete project examples and initial learnings—relevant for all actors in the energy industry.

In the VSE specialist forum on the first day (June 16, 2026, from 09:00), Urs Meister, Managing Director of ElCom, and BFE Director Benoît Revaz will face critical votes from the industry, while Martin Pflugshaupt, board member of VSE and the umbrella organization for Swiss distribution grid operators, shows how to master regulation and enable innovation—because the energy system transformation continues.

Challenges in grid operation are the focus of the second day. The Electrosuisse specialist forum (June 17, 2026, from 09:00) turns to digitalization at the low-voltage level and shows how IBC Energie Wasser Chur has brought the entire grid level 7 under control. We are also interested in the progress of renewables using the example of the alpine solar project Madrisa Solar.

On the third day, the specialist forum (June 18, 2026, 09:00) highlights several practical projects and which success factors make the difference. Furthermore, speakers will show how lighthouse projects point the way across the stormy waters of the coming years until 2050.

Urs Meister | Managing Director of the Federal Electricity Commission (ElCom)
Lecture: Swiss balancing energy market between regulation and reality, specialist forum June 16, 2026
"With the growing amount of renewable energy, stronger incentives are needed to produce it when there is actual demand. Similarly, stronger incentives are needed for market actors to forecast renewable production as accurately and thus as short-term as possible, and to control it if necessary, so that the required amount of expensive balancing energy can be reduced. Parallel to this, the functionality of short-term markets such as intraday trading or balancing energy markets should be strengthened. In Switzerland, these markets are small and have limited liquidity—stronger integration into European markets and platforms would increase their efficiency."

Dieter Maurer | Head of Sales Electrification & Automation, Siemens Schweiz AG
Lecture: IBC Energie Wasser Chur – Transparency in grid level 7, specialist forum electrosuisse, June 17, 2026
"Energy suppliers must manage the growing energy demand and renewables: while medium and high-voltage grids benefit from digitalization, many actions in low voltage (grid level 7) are still based on assumptions. Many do not know exactly from where and in which direction energy flows in the low-voltage grid; transparency is therefore very important."

Gian Paolo Lardi | Board Member and Managing Director Madrisa Solar, Head of Asset Management Production | Repower AG
Lecture: Madrisa Solar Project, specialist forum electrosuisse, June 17, 2026
"Alpine PV plants can make an important contribution to reducing the winter electricity gap. They are generational projects, and profitability remains a major challenge even with 60% investment contributions."

Matthias Egli | Managing Director Swissolar
Lecture: Morgeten Innovation Project, specialist forum June 18, 2026
"Decentralized production is successful when it is conceived locally and implemented intelligently: electricity should be used as close as possible to where it is generated. This can be achieved through storage, energy management, and local consumption models like LEG or vZEV. At the same time, this increases the profitability of photovoltaic systems and reduces grid expansion. It is crucial that the solar industry, energy suppliers, grid operators, municipalities, and politicians work closely together."

Werner Jauch | CEO energieUri Group
Lecture: Uri Wind Farm as a Success Model, specialist forum June 18, 2026
"The current and future challenges in the energy industry are known—as are the solutions. Now it takes courage, perseverance, and a willingness to take innovative paths—true to the motto: Just do it!"

Urs Meister | Managing Director of the Federal Electricity Commission (ElCom)
Lecture: Swiss balancing energy market between regulation and reality, specialist forum June 16, 2026
"With the growing amount of renewable energy, stronger incentives are needed to produce it when there is actual demand. Similarly, stronger incentives are needed for market actors to forecast renewable production as accurately and thus as short-term as possible, and to control it if necessary, so that the required amount of expensive balancing energy can be reduced. Parallel to this, the functionality of short-term markets such as intraday trading or balancing energy markets should be strengthened. In Switzerland, these markets are small and have limited liquidity—stronger integration into European markets and platforms would increase their efficiency."

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Powertage 2026 – Meeting point for the Swiss electricity industry

Duration, opening hours:
Tuesday, June 16 to Thursday, June 18, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Exhibition area:
Hall 3 and Hall 4

Forum and Side Events:
Hall 6

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