Country Update of Switzerland

Abstract

So far no kWh electricity is being produced from geothermal sources in Switzerland. Geothermal energy utilization for direct use is advancing well. Geothermal heat pump systems (GHP) spread out rapidly, with annual increase rates of up to 17 %. Statistical data exist up to the end of 2008 for direct use installed capacity and energy delivery. The predominant contribution is from geothermal heat pumps (GHP). among these the borehole heat exchanger (BHE)-coupled systems predominate.
In 2008 the total installed capacity in direct use was 1’060 MWt with an energy production of 2’130 GWh. With about 1 GHP installations every square km2, their density area-wise is the highest worldwide. Novel applications, like the use of warm tunnel waters and of other innovative solutions like energy piles are also established. The number of boreholes drilled for BHE installations is highly remarkable; alone in 2009 the total drilling length was nearly 2’000 km. The majority of the BHE systems are installed in new buildings but an important and increasing portion is for retrofitting existing buildings.
The total energy of 2’130 GWh (7.7 PJ) produced from geothermal sources in Switzerland in 2008 represents a considerable substitution of fossil fuels (~180’000 toe). Equally significant is the saving of further CO2 emission, which amounts to about 560’000 tons of CO2 per year.