Table 9.1 Risks to successful expansion of renewable sources of electricity in Switzerland (CH)
Barriers
Hydropower in CH
Rooftop PV in CH
Utility scale wind/
PV in CH
Offshore wind
Mediterranean CSP
High investment costs Compounded by low
prices
Ameliorated by FIT
and fees
Compounded by low
prices
Compounded by low
prices
Compounded by low
prices
Landscape/visual
impact
Only for large hydro
Minor
Unwanted
Low population if far
offshore
Low population in
desert
Permitting
Nature compensation
done
Building owner’s
permission needed
Challenges expected
Transmission line may
be challenged
Transmission line may
be challenged
Intermittency
Base load and
dispatchable
Diurnal, weather, and
seasonal
Diurnal, weather, and
seasonal
Relatively stable,
better in winter
Thermal storage
reduces
Energy independence Swiss source
Swiss source, need
balancing
Swiss source, need
balancing
Contributes to
diversification
Contributes to
diversification