New Swiss law to boost renewable energy generation

The law, which envisages installing solar panels on building roofs and facades, aims at boosting wind and solar power’s minuscule contribution to the country’s energy mix and rapidly raising hydro-electricity production to reduce dependence on imported electricity.

It also eases planning permission for wind turbines and large solar installations.

The law was “an important milestone for strengthening the security of supply” in Switzerland, particularly in winter, environment and energy minister Albert Rosti said.

But Switzerland’s largest party, the hard-right Swiss People’s Party (SVP), opposed the law, complaining the law would provide Swiss people with ‘little electricity, at a high price’ and result in ‘massive environmental destruction’, European media outlets reported.

A few small environmental groups opposed the new las as well, claiming it will accelerate large-scale energy projects and see pristine Alpine landscapes plastered with wind turbines and solar panels.

Official poll results showed that just under 69 per cent of Swiss voters backed the law on ‘a secure electricity supply based on renewable energies’.

Switzerland was condemned by the European Court of Human Rights less than two months ago for not doing enough to combat climate change.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)