In 2022, hydropower contributed 52.8% of the country's total electricity production and accounted for 54.6% of its electricity consumption. In the same year, Switzerland ranked 6th in Europe for hydropower production, making up 6% of Europe's total output. At the end of 2022, Switzerland's installed capacity in hydroelectric power stations will rank 6th in Europe, representing 6.9% of the European total. The country also ranked 6th in Europe for pumped storage power stations, with 7.8% of the European total.
History Switzerland's first hydroelectric dams date back to the 19th century: the Maigrauge dam built in Fribourg between 1870 and 1872 was Europe's first concrete dam; its power station (Oelberg) was built in 1910. Switzerland's first hydroelectric power station (two 20-hp turbines) was built in 1882 at Couvaloup to provide lighting for Lausanne's cantonal hospital. The 1950s and 1970s saw the construction of numerous large dams, particularly in the Alps.
Production According to the International Hydropower Association, Swiss hydropower production amounted to 34 TWh in 2022, or 0.8% of the world total; in Europe, Switzerland ranks 6th with 6.0% of the European total, behind Norway (22.7%), Sweden (12.3%), Turkey (11.6%), France (8.8%) and Austria (6.3%). In 2021, Swiss hydropower production accounted for 0.9% of the world total and ranked 7th in Europe with 5.7% of the European total. Swiss hydropower plants produced 33.5 TWh in 2022, down 15.2%, or 52.8% of the country's net electricity production and 54.6% of its electricity consumption, compared with 39.5 TWh in 2021 (61.5% and 63.2%). In 2019, Swiss hydropower production accounted for 0.9% of the world total, ranking 7th in Europe with 6.2% of the European total. In 2018, production stood at 37.78 TWh, or 0.9% of the world total, far behind China (1,232.9 TWh); in Europe, Switzerland ranked 6th with 5.9% of the European total, behind Norway (139.5 TWh), France (63.1 TWh), Sweden (60.9 TWh), Turkey (59.75 TWh) and Italy (49.28 TWh). In 2015, Swiss hydropower plants generated 39,486 GWh of electricity, or 59.9% of the country's total electricity production. This production was divided between run-of-river power plants (42%) and storage power plants (58%). Hydroelectric installations also consume electricity. Pumped storage involves pumping water downstream to fill upstream storage dams. In 2015, pumped storage consumed 2,296 GWh, or 3.5% of the country's electricity production. Switzerland has 604 power stations with an output of 300 kW or more, producing an average of 36,031 GWh/year of electricity. Some 47.6% is generated by run-of-river power plants, 48% by storage power plants, and 4.4% by pumped storage power plants. Around 63% of total production comes from the Alpine cantons (Uri, Graubünden, Ticino, and Valais), but the cantons of Aargau and Berne also supply considerable quantities of hydroelectric power. International hydropower plants on border rivers account for 11% of total Swiss production. Small-scale hydropower (power stations with a capacity ≤ 10 MW) has a long history in Switzerland, since there were already around 7,000 small hydroelectric power stations in operation at the beginning of the 20th century. However, lower-cost power generation in large-scale plants has led to the decommissioning of many of these facilities. In 2013, there were more than 1,000 small hydroelectric power plants in Switzerland, with an installed capacity of around 760 MW and an annual output of 3,400 GWh. Small hydropower still offers development potential of up to 2,200 GWh/year.
Installed capacity The installed capacity of Switzerland's hydroelectric power plants will reach 17,756 MW by the end of 2022; 6th in Europe, with 6.9% of the European total, behind Norway (13.1%), Turkey (12.4%), France (9.9%), Italy (8.8%) and Spain (7.9%), and 13th in the world, with 1.3% of the global total, far behind China (414,811 MW); pumped storage plants account for 25% of the total. Switzerland ranked 5th worldwide for commissioning in 2022, with the Nant de Drance 900 MW pumped storage plant. Commissioning in 2021 totalled 12 MW. The Swiss government has identified a number of potential new sites and opportunities for dam extensions, which could bring an additional 2 TWh of production with minimal impact on biodiversity and landscapes. Extensions completed in 2015 totalled 71 MW, and plants under construction at the end of 2015 represented an additional capacity of 2,486 MW. Installed capacity was 13,745 MW in the 2014/2015 hydrological year, and the SFOE's forecasts for its development are 13,815 MW for 2015/2016, 15,350 MW for 2016/2017, and 16,300 MW for 2018/2019. The SFOE divides the power plants into four categories, with their expected average power and output:
Run-of-river: 3,941 MW, 17,312 GWh; Storage power plants (with reservoirs): 7,966 MW, 17,295 GWh; Mixed pumped storage: 1,383 MW, 1,567 GWh; Pure pumped storage: 469 MW. Storage dams are reservoirs located at high altitudes. The turbines, installed lower down in the valley, are fed by penstocks, producing electricity thanks to the head of water between the dam and the turbine. The dam wall creates energy storage, which is transformed into electrical energy and regulated according to demand. Some storage facilities also use pumped storage. Water is pumped from the valley and raised to higher altitudes when consumption is low, to be turbined when consumption peaks. The breakdown by canton and river basin is as follows:
Maximum available electrical power and expected average annual production, status at January 1, 2016. Mountainous areas have made it possible to build large hydroelectric facilities, so that the cantons of Graubünden and Valais together account for almost half of production.
Existing power plants classified by river basin, as of January 1, 2016.
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