Potential

Total PV power installed in Switzerland is 26MWp, with an annual annual increase of around 2 MWp since 2002 (power installed each year). During the same period, the world photovoltaic market experienced an annual increase of over 30%. In 2006, the German market consisted of the equivalent of 11.65Wp/inhabitant, whereas in Switzerland it was only 0.34Wp/inhabitant, 30 times less.

In a study of the long-term potential of BiPV published in 2002, The International Energy Agency estimated that total surfaces actually usable for photovoltaic energy production in Switzerland was 138km2 for roofs and 52km2 for facades. These numbers - which correspond to 18m2 and 6,5m2 respectively per inhabitant – represent surfaces for which energy production potential is greater than 80% of maximum production (ideal orientation) and which take into account architectural and historical factors as well as solar irradiation.

If photovoltaic modules totally covered these surfaces, they would produce about 18.4 TWh annually, that is, 30% of Swiss annual electricity consumption or the equivalent of the nuclear power stations of Gösgen and Leibstadt, the two most powerful reactors in the country.

For Zurich alone, BiPV roof potential in the context of a buildings life cycle (construction, transformation and renovation) is around 80,000m2/year. Its exploitation would allow installation of around 8MWp per year from photovoltaic modules and a doubling of photovoltaic electrical production in only 3 years.

Increase in world market >> EPIA

>> HOSTETTLER T., "Solarstromstatistik 2006 mit erfreulichen Werten" in Bulletin SEV/AES, 8/2007, Electrosuisse, 2007.

>> Solar Generation : Solar electricity for over one billion people and two million jobs by 2020, European Photovoltaic Industry Association and Greenpeace International, Bruxelles, 2006.

>> Potential for Building Integrated PV, Report IEA-PVPS T7-2:2002 (Summary), International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme, 2002.

>> Statistique suisse de l’électricité 2006, Office fédéral de l’énergie, Bern, 2007.

>> Potenzial des Solarstroms in der Gemeinde, Office fédéral de l’énergie, Bern, 2006.