2024-05-01 14:34:12
Published1. May 2024, 16:34
Solar powerA sudden lack of electricity is more likely to lead to high prices in the future
Switzerland recently suddenly lacked electricity. So electricity is likely to become more expensive next year.
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On April 22 there was suddenly a shortfall in the power grid.
The forecast of severe weather and the expansion of solar power are adding to the problem.
Then the suppliers have to pay moon prices.
On April 22, Switzerland suddenly experienced a power outage the size of a large nuclear power plant. The shortage was huge. Experts from energy service provider Ompex cannot remember any major shortfall in the power grid.
This was due to outdated data on the introduction of photovoltaic systems. After days of sunny weather, the solar modules were suddenly covered in snow last Monday. That’s why the national grid company Swissgrid had to buy extra expensive electricity from power stations. Prices were 170 times more expensive than usual, according to Ompex estimates.
Normal in the future?
Such situations may occur more often in the future with the expansion of PV systems if the data and forecasts for PV feed-in are not updated accordingly in case of short-term weather changes, says Kaspar Haffner from the national grid company Swissgrid to 20 . Moment. “The more solar power, the greater the risk of this happening again unless we have better forecasts,” says Haffner.
Swissgrid is working hard on innovative solutions, but the entire industry needs to work on better data and forecasts. The problem is timeliness. “If there’s a forecast on Friday and the weather on Monday is worse than April 22, there can be big deviations,” says Haffner.
There is no threat of a blackout, ie a complete collapse of the power grid. If necessary, Switzerland could also buy electricity from the EU. In the long term, an electricity agreement would create legal certainty. Politicians also support such a project. The Commission responsible for the environment, spatial planning and energy favors technical cooperation in cross-border operations.
But electricity could become much more expensive again. According to Ompex, this incident alone is said to have cost between 20 and 30 million francs.
Next year it will be more expensive
But people only felt the higher costs next year, when the suppliers gave them the difference, says Philipp Wuillemin from the energy service provider Ompex. Costs will likely increase by a few cents per kilowatt then. Already this year, according to the Federal Electricity Commission, average household costs have risen nearly five cents to 32.14 cents per kilowatt hour.
Switzerland needs a better market-oriented pricing system, says Wuillemin. Presently the rewards for unexpectedly producing too much electricity are much worse compared to the outrageous prices for too little electricity.
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