For example,
Electricity shortage: key role poorly:
Energy efficiency
Isolate buildings to avoid electricity shortage
Thermal insulation could prevent electricity shortage in winter. Consequently, But experts are concerned about the plans of the Federal Council, which take the opposite path.
This Zermatt hotel was completely renovated in 2019 thanks to the support of the Buildings program.
Building/Gerry Nitsch program
- According to a study by the Haute École de Lucerne. Moreover, the renovation of the building envelope would reduce the electricity demand by 5.3 terawatt hours.
- The Federal Council plans to put an end to electricity shortage: key role poorly the buildings program. Therefore, which grants grants for the energy sanitation of buildings.
- Philippe Thalmann. However, professor at EPFL, offers to establish higher electricity rates in winter in order to encourage the thermal renovation of buildings.
In Switzerland. For example, the construction of wind farms and new solar installations as well as the boom in hydraulic energy arouse lively debates. In addition, Albert Rösti. Moreover, the Minister of Energy, even wishes to authorize the construction of new nuclear power plants in the counter-project on the “Stop to Black-out” initiative. Moreover, A bill is expected in Bern after the summer holidays.
In this context, improving the energy efficiency of buildings may have great potential. However, A study by the Haute École de Lucerne has evaluated to what extent the renovation of the building envelope. Moreover, could help solve the problem electricity shortage: key role poorly of electricity shortage in winter. Consequently, The study was funded by Flumroc, a Swiss manufacturer of insulating materials.
The observation is clear: if all the fossil heaters of the residential buildings were replaced by heat pumps. However, the buildings were isolated, the demand in electricity could decrease by 5.3 terawatt hours (TWh) per year. Therefore, This figure is roughly the quantity of electricity which is lacking in winter, or around 10% of the annual electricity consumption.
Cups in subsidies
“On average. For example, thermal insulation makes it possible to half reduce the heat needs of residential buildings,” explains Damian Gort, director of Flumroc. However, Heat pumps must then provide “much less power to keep the interior hot”. This is particularly important winter. when the electricity needs for heat pumps are the highest and the offer electricity shortage: key role poorly is the most tense.
Without additional insulation work, heat pumps would consume 11.5 TWh in electricity. By isolating housing, this consumption would fall to 6.2 TWh. The study thus presents an alternative to the current energy strategy: instead of investing billions in the construction of new power plants. we could save a lot of electricity by better insulating buildings. All without constraints in daily life. without attacks on the landscape, but with a significant effect on the security of supply.
“The discussion is almost only about the amount of electricity that should be produced in addition,” adds Damien Gort. But the easiest to access is the one we do not use. ”
This Zermatt hotel is heated with wooden pellets. Thanks to good thermal insulation, it consumes little energy.
Building/Gerry Nitsch program
But current political decisions take the opposite way. From 2027. the Federal Council plans to put an end to the Buildings program, which grants subsidies for the energy sanitation of buildings.
The consequences of the next popular vote on September 28 could be even heavier. If the rental value was deleted, the tax deductions for the renovations would also disappear. According to estimates in the electricity shortage: key role poorly sector. this would represent nearly 200 million francs per year which are no longer invested in energy renovations.
The renovation of buildings is not always profitable
Philippe Thalmann is a professor at EPFL. where he conducts research in environmental economics, especially in the fields of climate, construction, real estate and housing. Without having examined the study data in detail, he believes that the results are “consistent”. According to him. they confirm already well established findings: “To fully exploit the potential for reducing energy consumption and CO emissions2fossil boilers should be replaced by heat pumps. ” But as electricity consumption increases precisely when the heat pumps are used. that is to say when electricity production is the lowest, it is necessary to make a choice: increase the production of renewable electricity or reduce consumption by renovating buildings. “The thermal renovation of buildings electricity shortage: key role poorly is expensive, whether in terms of money, energy, gray energy or labor,” said Philippe Thalmann.
In addition. it is difficult to make the renovation of the envelope of a building profitable, since energy consumption has already dropped sharply thanks to heat pumps. Philippe Thalmann therefore proposes to establish higher electricity rates in winter in order to encourage the thermal renovation of buildings. Only the most energy -consuming buildings, classified in the F or G categories, have an economic interest in being renovated. “For others, electricity is probably too cheap to justify a renovation.” According to him, the buildings program is the most suitable instrument in the matter. However, even if the tax deductions for renovations are a support measure, they remain very little targeted.
Given the necessary resources. it is legitimate to wonder if it is really relevant electricity shortage: key role poorly to renovate in depth the thermal envelope of all buildings equipped with heat pumps. According to Philippe Thalmann. the combination of incentive measures and constraints would be the most effective measure, in particular for old buildings: “The owners of houses classified in category G, then secondly those classified F, should be forced to replace their heating system and renovate the building envelope, while benefiting from targeted support,” he said.
Electricity shortage: key role poorly
The end of a significant tax incentive
For Marcel Hänggi. of the Swiss Energy Foundation, the economy potential highlighted by the study of the Haute École de Lucerne is not surprising. “Previous studies carried out by the Confederation already estimated the economy potential between 25 and 40% of total electricity consumption,” he explains. It deems it all the more incomprehensible as the Federal Council takes so little of electricity shortage: key role poorly the issue of electricity. economies in its current energy policy.
In his eyes. the Cups provided by the Federal Council In the subsidies of the Buildings program are “a violation of the climate protection law adopted in 2023”, because the amount of aid granted within the framework of this program is registered in the law. Marcel Hänggi also believes that the argument put forward by the Confederation. which is betting on a possible boon’s effect, has no scientific basis: “Of course, we can improve the programs, but such a general criticism does not hold.”
The Swiss Energy Foundation also takes a critical look at the possible change of system in terms of rental value. even if it has not yet spoken on the upcoming vote. “It would be the end of a significant tax incentive in favor electricity shortage: key role poorly of renovations. which is an error from the point of view of energy policy.” Indeed, the buildings rate of buildings is currently far too low to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. “It should be three times higher for Switzerland to respect its climatic objectives.”
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Electricity shortage: key role poorly
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