Most of this was predictable. They know where they get energy from, how much they use, and how much they will be harmed if they turn away Russian energy or shut down coal and nuclear plants. They could not predict some of the higher energy prices but that is why you get long term contracts.
https://voxday.net/2022/07/10/a-dire-situation/A Dire Situation
The head of the Swiss gas industry, André Dosé, warns about the dangerous energy and electricity situation facing Europe in the aftermath of the self-destructive decision on the part of the European governments to go to war with Russia and China on the orders of the US-based neocons. Of course, if the Swiss had maintained their historical neutrality, they could simply ask the Russians for help, but instead they’re being retaught the painful lesson of a) taking sides and b) aligning with the losers.
A Dire Situation
The head of the Swiss gas industry, André Dosé, warns about the dangerous energy and electricity situation facing Europe in the aftermath of the self-destructive decision on the part of the European governments to go to war with Russia and China on the orders of the US-based neocons. Of course, if the Swiss had maintained their historical neutrality, they could simply ask the Russians for help, but instead they’re being retaught the painful lesson of a) taking sides and b) aligning with the losers.
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Does that also apply to Switzerland?
Yes. We depend on year-round gas imports and electricity imports in winter. This crisis in Switzerland is largely self-inflicted. The Energy Strategy 2050 is built on sand. It was assumed that there was no population growth, the population reduced electricity consumption. Likewise, electromobility was not included in the scenarios when voting. It was a dream that would never have worked one way or the other. The Ukraine war is now forcing us to rethink dramatically.
What must Switzerland do now?
There is no short-term solution. The expansion of photovoltaics is all right and good – but it won’t get us through the winter. Switzerland lags behind other countries in Europe. In addition, we do not have an electricity agreement with the EU, which does not improve our situation.
The “Perfect Storm”.
Yes, unfortunately. And I don’t have the impression that people in this country are aware of how dangerous the situation is. If the population is now called upon to take a shower instead of a bath, then the scope of our problems is fundamentally misunderstood.
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UPDATE: Today’s NZZ is discussing the possibility that Switzerland will lose 30 to 40 percent of its power this winter. It seems to me that the wisest approach to the incipient crisis would be a) declaring permanent neutrality, b) unfreezing and restoring all Russian assets, and c) sending a delegation to Moscow to apologize to the Russian people and request assistance.
COMMENTS
mscharrer @mscharrer
5 hours ago
From the interview: They used to have 20 year contracts for gas, but those were not renewed because of the low spot price a few years ago.
Time preferences matter.
Doug from the Bronx @Bronx
3 hours ago
In Germany: “As firewood dealers face their own nationwide rush of customers and can no longer meet the increased demand, Gerd Muller, head of the office of the Federal Firewood Association in Kamen, said that the market is now empty.”
:shock:
