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Switzerland backs Energy Strategy 2050 and votes for nuclear exit

Swiss voters have approved the Energy Strategy 2050, which targets a nuclear exit, an increase in the share of renewable energies and the improvement of the energy efficiency. The law was adopted by the National Council in late September 2016 and had to be approved through a referendum.



Under the proposed Energy Strategy 2050, Switzerland maintains the interdiction of new nuclear power plants and plans a gradual phase out of the five existing, ageing reactors. The country aims to reach 4.4 TWh of renewable power generation by 2020 (excluding hydropower) and 11.4 TWh by 2035. Hydropower generation should reach at least 37.4 TWh in 2035. The strategy details injection obligations and retribution conditions for renewable power generation, the investment contribution for solar PV, hydropower and biomass-fired power plants and other support measures. In addition, the strategy aims to reduce the average energy consumption per inhabitant and per year, by 16% by 2020 and by 43% by 2035, compared to 2000 levels. The average electricity consumption (per inhabitant and per year) should be reduced by 3% by 2020 and by 13% by 2035, still compared to 2000 levels.

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