Switzerland’s heat supply is to become CO2-neutral by 2050. With the “Heat Strategy 2050”, the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) shows which measures can be used to achieve this goal.
Today, the heating sector accounts for around 50% of Switzerland’s energy consumption and causes more than 35% of CO2 emissions. In order to achieve the net-zero emissions target, the heat demand (heating and hot water in buildings and process heat in industry) must be completely covered with renewable energies and CO2-free by 2050.
The 2050 heating strategy is based on the SFOE’s Energy Perspectives 2050+, which examined various net-zero scenarios. In order to achieve the climate target, it is necessary both to switch from fossil to renewable energy sources and to reduce consumption: in 2050, energy consumption in the heating sector should be around 30% lower than in 2020.
Around 60 organizations were consulted on the draft of the 2050 heating strategy (municipalities, cantons, energy companies, construction industry, business associations, educational organizations, environmental associations, etc.). Around 70% of the respondents consider the heating strategy to be realistic or rather realistic. The feedback was taken into account in the final version of the Heat Strategy 2050.
The strategy paper describes in a target picture 2050 (see enclosure) and in text form the respective measures for a total of 10 topics: Building Efficiency; Heating Systems; Process Heat: Thermal Networks; Thermal Energy Storage; Electrification; Renewable Gases and Synthetic Fuels; Confederation, Cantons and Municipalities; Legislation; Specialists.
The Heat Strategy 2050 is intended to serve as a guideline for the further development of measures to decarbonize the Swiss energy supply system, particularly in the heating sector. The net-zero target cannot be achieved by 2050 with the political measures currently in place. Various new measures have already been initiated and are currently being discussed in parliament or are already ready for implementation. In particular, the revision of the CO2 Act and the indirect counter-proposal to the Glacier Initiative will support the switch from fossil to renewable heating systems. The Federal Act on a Secure Electricity Supply with Renewable Energies, the project list of the Hydropower Round Table and the Solar Offensive enacted by Parliament in autumn 2022 promote energy efficiency and the expansion of renewable electricity production. Furthermore, DETEC, the Cantonal Energy Directors’ Conference, the Swiss Association of Cities and Towns and the Swiss Association of Municipalities signed the Charter for Accelerating the Expansion of Thermal Grids in August 2022 and have begun corresponding joint implementation work. In addition, the SFOE is currently developing a hydrogen strategy in exchange with the industry.
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