Climate policy is energy policy

Global warming is the greatest challenge of the 21st century. With its ratification of the Paris Climate Agreement, Switzerland has committed to a 50-per cent reduction of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The fully revised CO2 Act creates the foundations to achieve this milestone. It is a first step in the right direction, which is why Axpo belongs to a very broad ‘yes’ alliance from the business sector in support of this legislation.

However, we are not merely participating in a political campaign. Axpo is also making a significant contribution to the energy transition. Overall, we emit three times less CO2 than the European average from our total energy production, at 79 g per kilowatt-hour. In Switzerland, we generate one third of the country’s power consumption, emitting just 7 g / kWh. We will continue on the path to even further reduction.

As the largest Swiss producer of renewable energies and a leading international marketer of solar and wind power, we have leverage in some 30 countries. Axpo supports numerous business customers in lowering their CO2 emissions by offering tailored solutions with renewable energies. Our strategy envisions a very ambitious expansion of renewables abroad. In the solar area, for example, we want to increase our portfolio by 10 GW by 2030 – about 20 times more than today.

We would also like to expand more in Switzerland. Unfortunately, the regulatory framework conditions are such that large plants cannot be feasibly developed. As a result, the expansion of renewables is going nowhere. Hydropower is eroding little by little owing to increasing requirements and very high fees. This summer, policy-makers have it in their hands to set the right course for Switzerland when they deal with the revision of the Energy Act and the Electricity Supply Act. Because climate policy is also energy policy.

This text appeared in a guest commentary of Christoph Brand in the newspaper L’Agefi on 5 May 2021.