The appetite for wind energy is growing in Switzerland. MET Group is a new player on the Swiss market that sees Switzerland as a valuable wind location. Christian Hürlimann, Renewables CEO at the energy company from the canton of Zug, explains why.
Original article in German: Energie Inside
Christian Hürlimann, you have your own view of the energy transition. You see the energy system as a market.
Yes. In fact, as a private company with a European focus, we do not have a supply mandate, but we would like to make a contribution to the transformation of the energy system with our planned production sites in Switzerland. Wind energy plays an important role in this.
But we are always hearing that Switzerland is not in a good location for wind power.
According to our own analyses, this is not true. The wind power potential is considerable. And the wind often blows when there is a lull abroad. This makes the wind power produced here particularly valuable and significantly expands the production mix.
Do wind and solar energy complement each other?
Yes. As a rule, the generation of electricity from wind power and solar energy does not take place at the same time – this applies both to the different seasonal distributions within a year and to individual daily profiles. That is why these two renewable energy forms go so well together. Under no circumstances should an energy system be reduced to just one or two production technologies. It's the mix that makes the difference.
But there is a lot of resistance to wind farms!
You can't generalise like that. In our projects, we make a point of building and planning in places where the infrastructure, such as reservoirs and grid connections, already exists. The local communities are also given the opportunity to participate. The future belongs to hybrid production anyway, where we can combine several technologies together with storage systems in the same location.
Are there justified objections to wind turbines?
The technology is very advanced. The impact on the environment is carefully analysed and compensated for before construction; with sensors and AI, it is now also possible to protect birds and bats. The turbines are now also much quieter than they used to be – but yes, you have to get used to the sight of them first.
Are you confident that the energy transition will succeed?
If we carry on like this, we will be CO2-neutral by 2050. I am convinced of that. But there is still a long way to go and the challenges, such as the winter energy gap, to name just one, are huge. All the necessary technologies are available. Now the market design also needs to develop further on the basis of a smart, close-meshed structure with coupled sectors – so that energy always has a value. Last but not least, the private sector must also invest substantially, and this requires a regulatory framework that is stable and reliable in the long term.