| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Wind Power News: Switzerland
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Swiss vote for gradual nuclear phaseout
The Swiss parliament supports the new law, with the exception of the country's largest political party, the populist Swiss People's Party (SVP), which requested Sunday's referendum. "I'm very worried about the future," SVP parliamentarian Celine Amaudruz told RTS as the referendum results ticked in. SVP maintains the energy shift will be too expensive, would threaten Switzerland's energy supply and would "disfigure" the country's pristine natural landscape with more wind turbines and solar panels. Complete story »
One wind turbine kills up to 29 birds a year
A study focusing on three wind turbines in the Jura mountains in western Switzerland has shown that on average each one causes the death of 14 to 29 birds a year – almost triple previous estimates. Migration periods were associated with more deaths but visibility could also play a role. Small, nocturnal migratory birds were the main victims, according to the study results – carried out by the Swiss Ornithological Institute for the Federal Office for the Environment – released . . . Complete story »
Eco group fights Bern over wind farm plans
An environmental organization has joined the Swiss People’s Party in opposing the government’s ‘energy strategy 2050’ over fears plans for more wind farms could damage the Swiss countryside. The government’s new strategy, a draft of which was approved in parliament in September, promises a new focus on renewable energy as the country looks to move away from nuclear power. But the proposed development of wind farms in Switzerland has worried Paysage Libre Suisse, which said in a statement on Wednesday . . . Complete story »
Switzerland drags feet over renewables
Switzerland produces less solar and wind energy per inhabitant – only 170 kilowatt hours – than most other European countries, or enough energy for a refrigerator for a year, a new study reveals. Switzerland is ranked 25th out of 29 countries in a comparative European study by the Swiss Energy Foundation, published on Tuesday. Only Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary and Latvia produce less wind and solar energy per inhabitant than Switzerland. Denmark (2,619 Kwh per inhabitant), Sweden (1,704 Kwh) and Germany . . . Complete story »
Can wind energy overcome planning hurdles?
Renewables may play a large part of the government’s nuclear-free energy plans, but the construction of wind power plants is regularly being blocked. Wind plants are one way Switzerland plans to reduce its dependency on nuclear energy. In 2011 the Swiss government decided to withdraw from the use of nuclear energy by gradually decommissioning the current nuclear power plants. A long-term energy strategy was drawn up that relies heavily on increased renewable energy, with wind energy playing an important role. . . . Complete story »
Eoliennes: le Parquet ouvre une enquête
L’association Les Travers du vent, qui lutte contre la transformation des crêtes du Val-de-Travers en un parc éolien, a de quoi se réjouir. Le procureur général Olivier Jornot a ouvert une procédure pénale suite à la dénonciation pénale que l’organisation a déposée en avril auprès du Ministère public genevois pour gestion déloyale dans l’affaire qui lie les Services Industriels de Genève ( SIG) aux sociétés Ennova, nous apprend Le Courrier de samedi. Il en a informé l’association dans une lettre . . . Complete story »
Cavernous Swiss power plant undermined by renewable energy
Like their EU peers, Swiss utilities have called for a cut in wind and solar power subsidies. The Swiss association of power producers VSE is calling for a mechanism that would pay pumped storage plant operators for the back-up they provide. "We would favour a market-based system with different capacity prices per week," VSE president Kurt Rohrbach said. The argument is that profitable or not, pumped storage plants are essential for balancing power supply grids, which can suffer blackouts if supply and demand do not match. Only pumped storage plants can suck up excess electricity and then release it again within minutes. Complete story »
Les habitants de Berolle hostiles au projet de parc éolien de Bière
L’impact visuel du futur parc éolien de Bière a été au centre de toutes les préoccupations, mardi soir, lors d’une séance d’information organisée par la Société électrique des forces de l’Aubonne (SEFA). A cette occasion, les habitants de Berolle se sont déplacés en nombre et se sont montrés particulièrement hostiles à l’implantation de sept installations sur la commune limitrophe de Bière. Il faut dire que les villageois craignent de perdre leur vue sur les Alpes et le Mont-Blanc, le parc . . . Complete story »
Parc éolien de Vallorbe: Pro Natura s’inquiète pour les chauves-souris
Les six éoliennes prévues sur les communes de Vallorbe, Vaulion et Premier sont contestées. Elles pourraient avoir des impacts considérables sur les oiseaux du Jura, sur les chauves-souris, ainsi que sur le paysage. C’est la raison qui a poussé Pro natura Vaud à formuler une opposition. L’organisation de protection de la nature n’a pas d’objection de principe au projet. Le secteur ne figure en effet pas dans un inventaire de protection de la nature et du paysage. Mais, pour elle, . . . Complete story »
Pro Natura formule une opposition au parc éolien de Sur-Grati
Les six éoliennes prévues sur les communes de Vallorbe, Vaulion et Premier sont contestées. Elles pourraient avoir des impacts considérables sur les oiseaux du Jura, sur les chauves-souris, ainsi que sur le paysage. C’est la raison qui a poussé Pro natura Vaud à formuler une opposition. L’organisation de protection de la nature n’a pas d’objection de principe au projet. Le secteur ne figure en effet pas dans un inventaire de protection de la nature et du paysage. Mais, pour elle, . . . Complete story »
