148 Oscar Van Vliet
Swiss citizens consistently prefer solar electricity and, to a lesser degree, wind
(for more details, see Plum et al., n.d.). These should be built in existing industrial and commercial areas, including ski resorts, rather than in areas of natural
beauty. However, the Swiss do not agree on all aspects of their energy strategy.
We find five distinct groups of voters: the largest two groups are ‘Moderates’ and
a group that is specifically ‘Contra status quo’ to using nuclear power but otherwise also moderate. Three groups have a very specific profile: ‘Pro renewables’,
‘Pro Switzerland’, and ‘Pro landscape’. All groups except ‘Pro landscape’ (95%
of respondents) prefer electricity from Switzerland, and all groups except ‘Pro
Switzerland’ (84% of respondents) accept imports of renewable electricity, preferably from plants operated by Swiss utilities. Unlike domestic or imported
renewables, Swiss generally dislike natural gas and non- renewable imported
electricity. Furthermore, our survey results show that the Swiss public find ‘the
construction of high- voltage transmission lines abroad for supplying Switzerland
with electricity problematic’ just as much as having power lines or wind turbines
in their own living environment.
Local perspectives
Three local renewable energy projects in Switzerland illustrate the perspectives of
different stakeholder groups on the process and negotiations involved in actually
implementing a renewable energy project and show approaches to manage the
risks involved: a small hydropower project in the canton of St Gallen (examined
in Díaz Redondo, Adler, and Patt, 2017), solar PV on avalanche barriers in the
canton of Graubünden (examined in Díaz Redondo and Van Vliet, 2018) and a
solar farm project in the canton of Vaud (examined in Späth, 2018).
The small hydropower project in Breschnerbach (canton St Gallen) was led
by a local utility, consultants, and pro- hydropower members of local and cantonal governments. The main challenge noted by these proponents was that the
decision- making process, including permitting, took a very long time to complete. In the event, NGOs in favour of reducing energy demand were in conflict
with local proponents who saw the hydropower plant as benefiting the local
economy and community. After the utility received the concession in 2011,
four years were spent negotiating a nature compensation scheme, with some 40
stakeholders represented in the process, including national NGOs. One NGO
complained to the cantonal court but this was rejected, and the construction
permit was granted in 2016. The project was eventually seen as ‘win–win’. All
perspectives showed consensus on the need for fair, inclusive, and democratic
decision making, though the local proponents felt that participatory decision
making limits infrastructure development.
In St Antoniën (canton Graubünden), a project aimed to install solar PV on
avalanche protection barriers. This would generate more electricity than PV in
lowlands as the solar input is up to 50% higher in the mountains. Moreover,
suitable foundations were already present, and foundations make up a significant
share of the installation costs for most PV projects. However, building PV on
Swiss citizens consistently prefer solar electricity and, to a lesser degree, wind
(for more details, see Plum et al., n.d.). These should be built in existing industrial and commercial areas, including ski resorts, rather than in areas of natural
beauty. However, the Swiss do not agree on all aspects of their energy strategy.
We find five distinct groups of voters: the largest two groups are ‘Moderates’ and
a group that is specifically ‘Contra status quo’ to using nuclear power but otherwise also moderate. Three groups have a very specific profile: ‘Pro renewables’,
‘Pro Switzerland’, and ‘Pro landscape’. All groups except ‘Pro landscape’ (95%
of respondents) prefer electricity from Switzerland, and all groups except ‘Pro
Switzerland’ (84% of respondents) accept imports of renewable electricity, preferably from plants operated by Swiss utilities. Unlike domestic or imported
renewables, Swiss generally dislike natural gas and non- renewable imported
electricity. Furthermore, our survey results show that the Swiss public find ‘the
construction of high- voltage transmission lines abroad for supplying Switzerland
with electricity problematic’ just as much as having power lines or wind turbines
in their own living environment.
Local perspectives
Three local renewable energy projects in Switzerland illustrate the perspectives of
different stakeholder groups on the process and negotiations involved in actually
implementing a renewable energy project and show approaches to manage the
risks involved: a small hydropower project in the canton of St Gallen (examined
in Díaz Redondo, Adler, and Patt, 2017), solar PV on avalanche barriers in the
canton of Graubünden (examined in Díaz Redondo and Van Vliet, 2018) and a
solar farm project in the canton of Vaud (examined in Späth, 2018).
The small hydropower project in Breschnerbach (canton St Gallen) was led
by a local utility, consultants, and pro- hydropower members of local and cantonal governments. The main challenge noted by these proponents was that the
decision- making process, including permitting, took a very long time to complete. In the event, NGOs in favour of reducing energy demand were in conflict
with local proponents who saw the hydropower plant as benefiting the local
economy and community. After the utility received the concession in 2011,
four years were spent negotiating a nature compensation scheme, with some 40
stakeholders represented in the process, including national NGOs. One NGO
complained to the cantonal court but this was rejected, and the construction
permit was granted in 2016. The project was eventually seen as ‘win–win’. All
perspectives showed consensus on the need for fair, inclusive, and democratic
decision making, though the local proponents felt that participatory decision
making limits infrastructure development.
In St Antoniën (canton Graubünden), a project aimed to install solar PV on
avalanche protection barriers. This would generate more electricity than PV in
lowlands as the solar input is up to 50% higher in the mountains. Moreover,
suitable foundations were already present, and foundations make up a significant
share of the installation costs for most PV projects. However, building PV on