Electricity is invisible but forever present in our lives. We take it for granted and generally use it without even thinking about it. As soon as we get up in the morning, we turn on the light, grab a coffee from the machine, and listen to the radio.
Electricity's journey from the electricity producer to the power socket is a long and sometimes complex one. It passes through various stages until it is finally transformed to 230 volts and starts to make our lives more comfortable.
Transformation is one challenge. Making sure that we have the right amount of electricity in the grid is the other. That is to say, just enough electricity as is required at any given time. This is because energy consumption and energy generation must always be in equilibrium. That's where Swissgrid comes in. It is our job to ensure this balance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Swissgrid is the owner of the Swiss transmission grid. Its grid is more than 6,700 kilometres long and transports electrical energy at a voltage of 380 and 220 kilovolts. The transmission grid comprises all the lines as well as 147 substations. Swissgrid carries out regular maintenance, upgrades and appropriate expansions to ensure that the grid is always available. It will invest 2.5 billion francs for this purpose up until 2025. After all, Swissgrid represents the backbone for a secure electricity supply.
There is a good reason why the Swiss transmission grid is one of the most stable in the world. The grid is mapped meticulously across 40,000 metering points, which record and process around 10,000 measured values within seconds. Swissgrid uses these values to simulate electricity flows and, if necessary, takes appropriate measures to ensure the secure and reliable operation of the grid, even in the event of irregularities. Swissgrid’s operations are not limited to Switzerland; it is also active abroad in conjunction with its European partners. After all, electricity knows no borders.
Voltage of 380 and 220 kilovolts
6,700 kilometres long
12,000 pylons
147 substations
41 cross-border lines
2.5 billion Swiss francs of planned investment
