Following the Swiss electorate’s clear «yes» to the Electricity Act on 9 June 2024, the expansion of renewable energies can really start to take off. But for end customers to be able to use this electricity, it has to actually reach them. A production plant can’t supply energy to anyone if the grid capacities are not sufficient to transport the energy produced. To prevent the grids from becoming the bottleneck of the energy transition, it is crucial for them to be modernised and, where necessary, expanded to keep up with increasing production levels. However, the grid infrastructure not only needs to be strengthened, but also modernised and completely replaced in the coming years. The Federal Council therefore wants to speed up the approval processes for the renovation and expansion of the grids.
The «Grid express» proposal will make it possible to replace grid elements more rapidly. Speeding up approval processes, which can currently take up to 15 years, is a key aspect. In some cases, these processes can even take up to 30 years due to objections and court proceedings. Shortening these lead times is essential to ensure that grid expansion can keep pace with the expansion of power plants in the future.
The transmission system plays a key role in the Swiss electricity system. It enables the supra-regional and cross-border exchange of electricity and must ensure that future production can continue to be transported to the consumer centres in Central Switzerland.
The energy transition needs a strong grid. The «Grid express» will accelerate approval processes and enable the Swiss transmission grid to be modernised in a timely manner.
Overhead lines have proven their worth – they are reliable, robust and cost-effective
An overhead line principle is to apply in the transmission system in the future. Overhead lines have proven to be the standard solution in the Swiss extra-high-voltage grid. They are robust, rapid to maintain and cost-effective.
It is not possible to have a high proportion of underground cables in the transmission system for physical and operational reasons (reactive power compensation, voltage maintenance, grid restoration, repair time, etc.). If the proportion of underground cabling in the transmission system increases, Swissgrid must build compensation systems that reduce the voltage. From a technical and operational point of view, the proportion of underground cables in the transmission system should be kept low. When evaluating the option to lay underground cabling, it is important to consider not only the specific line section, but also the grid as a whole.
In addition, the costs for underground cables are two to ten times higher than for overhead lines. These costs are borne jointly by all Swiss electricity consumers. That is why it is important and right that overhead lines should continue to form the resilient standard for the Swiss transmission grid in the future, and that underground cables should only be used in exceptional cases.
Reaching objectives more quickly by dispensing with the sectoral plan procedure
In the future, it will be possible to dispense with the sectoral plan procedure when replacing existing lines along the previous route. This means that existing overhead lines that have reached the end of their service life can be replaced along the previous route without the need for a comprehensive sectoral plan procedure, which extends the process by two to four years. This saves valuable time and enables urgently needed replacements to take place more quickly.
This will allow Swissgrid to carry out upcoming replacement work on the transmission system more efficiently and cost-effectively in the next few decades. After all, the number of grid projects will multiply in relation to the last 20 years.
Dispensing with a sectoral plan procedure when replacing lines with equivalent elements is vital for speeding up approval processes.
Priority over other national interests to recognise the importance of the grid
Implementing new transmission system elements should always take precedence over other national interests such as environmental and landscape protection. This means that ensuring a secure and stable supply of electricity thanks to an efficient transmission system should take precedence over other national interests whenever conflicts of interest arise.
This rule will make it possible to speed up approval processes by setting a clear priority for putting grid projects into practice. Nevertheless, individual cases will continue to be analysed and interests weighed up.
Greater efficiency thanks to regional coordination of grid planning
In the future, grid operators should involve the relevant cantons and other affected infrastructure operators in the planning process comprehensively and in good time. This close cooperation should ensure better coordination of planning steps and the optimal use of synergies.
A successful example of this type of cooperation is the «Studio Generale» project in Ticino, in which Swissgrid worked with local partners to find a coordinated solution for power lines and spatial development. This type of project shows that early coordination saves time, simplifies approval processes and can help ensure the successful, efficient implementation of grid projects.
No transition without transmission
The energy transition will not succeed without a strong and modern grid. The «Grid express» proposal contains important provisions for the urgently needed acceleration of approval processes in relation to the extra-high-voltage grid. Swissgrid is committed to ensuring that Switzerland continues to have a secure, reliable and sustainable supply of electricity. The grid is a fundamental part of this.
Complete replacement of the grid infrastructure
The modernisation of the transmission system is a challenge not only technically, but also timewise. Swissgrid works continuously to maintain and modernise the grid infrastructure. Many projects from the Strategic Grid 2025 are blocked in lengthy approval processes.
The renovation of the grid infrastructure as it reaches the end of its service life is another major focus alongside the long-term modernisation and elimination of congestion in the transmission system. Around two thirds of the Swiss transmission grid is now between 50 and 80 years old. An overhead line has a service life of around 80 years. Replacements for age reasons require a sectoral plan procedure for some lines. Swissgrid also carries out short-term renovation work due to the ageing of electricity pylons, for instance to replace conductors or insulators or to increase the safety distances between the conductors and the ground. The «Grid express» will make it possible to implement these projects in a timely manner by allowing existing lines to be replaced along the previous route without the need for complex sectoral planning procedures. This can shorten the duration of projects by two to four years.
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