published 2. June 2022, 09:45
The Treasury is afraid of a crisis in electricity and gas supplies in the winter. Therefore, it demands that the heating should not exceed 20 degrees this winter.
1/6
The SP wants to regulate the heating.
20 minutes / Simon Glauser
As there is a risk of a supply crisis in winter, the rooms should only be heated to 20 degrees.
Defeat Mathys
In addition, it should be possible to raise the walls of the tanks more easily.
20 min / Taddeo Cerletti
Switzerland must now make preparations to reduce its gas consumption in the winter should there be bottlenecks. The SP is of this belief and therefore demands a strategy from the Federal Council. According to PS, there could also be an electricity supply gap if it is particularly cold and there is a shortage of electricity in Europe.
The party therefore demands an energy security plan from the Federal Council and solidarity with other European countries. “Controlling gas supply and electricity imports can only be considered in relation to Europe,” reads the position paper. In three steps, PS wants to prevent bottlenecks in the supply of electricity and gas.
Step 1: Less heating, less gas for industry
To reduce energy consumption, the party proposes four measures:
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Obsolete and ineffective electrical equipment replacement program.
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Replacement of gas with heating oil in industry and heating, provided that an appropriate system is available.
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Gas consumption slightly reduced from the beginning of the heating season. The rooms should be heated one degree less or only up to 20 degrees.
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Negotiating a solidarity agreement with neighboring countries.
Step 2: Temperatures below 20 degrees, industry disconnects the gas
Should a supply crisis nevertheless occur, the SE proposes four other temporary measures to reduce energy consumption:
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Additional temperature reduction in gas-heated buildings.
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Disruption of gas supplies to certain industries with appropriate compensation for companies.
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Reduction in power consumption during heating, i.e. with electric resistance heaters and possibly also with gas pumps.
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Population should be urged to use less electricity temporarily in other areas.
Step 3: Solar duty, higher tank walls, 4,000 skilled workers per year
According to the PS, these eight measures should be applied in the short term this winter if necessary. PS also developed six medium-term measures:
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Solar obligation for large roofs and new buildings.
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Introduction of a unique procedure for the direct approval of terrestrial solar parks with a total capacity of three gigawatts.
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Recognize the reservoir facade designs and both new structures listed in the Hydropower Round Table Memorandum of Understanding as of national importance.
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Launch of the national campus of energy transformation to train 4,000 specialists per year.
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Launch of a 300 MW national pilot scheme to generate hydrogen from summer renewable electricity surplus through a power-to-gas process.
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Participation in European reindustrialization projects.
According to the SP, the Federal Council should develop a plan to achieve these goals. According to the party, this should include the creation of an operational mechanism to temporarily limit consumption in order to “avoid chaos” and be credible to neighboring countries. A strategy for cooperation and solidarity should also be developed. In addition, a rescue package is to be adopted swiftly in Parliament to prevent a liquidity crisis in energy companies.