Per capita, Switzerland has the highest installed PV capacity in the world. About 80 Swiss electricity utilities now offer their customers solar-generated power. Some 20 0000 customer have shown their willingness to pay more for PV power, resulting in the installation of 2500 kWp of PV plant. In Switzerland, solar power has a good public image and expectation for PV as an energy source of the future are high. In response to this, many utilities now offer solar-generated electricity as part of a scheme launched jointly in autumn 1996 by the Swiss national energy programme Energy 2000 and the Association of Swiss Electricity Companies (VSE). The scheme builds on an initiative of Zόrich's electricity utility, EWZ, which was the first to start a 'solar stock exchange', acting as a 'broker' between customer demand and third parties who wanted to sell their PV electricity. The focus is on provision of solar power for small and medium-sized customers and the promotion of PV installation n built-up areas. Power is purchased at cost-covering prices, which provides an incentive to build new cost-competitive installations, with the result that system costs are dropping continuously. Customers choose how much solar power they want to buy, paying mostly between CHF 1,00 - 1,20 (USD 0,63 - 0,75) per kWh. Information Pius Huesser Nova Energie, Switzerland Fax: +41 62 834 0323 [ Top ] [ Previous article in PV Power ] [ Next issue of PV Power ]

Programme summary • Location: Switzerland • Description: National green-pricing/rate based incentive scheme • Objective: To provide PV power for small users, to promote PV in built environment, to reduce system costs • Number of participants: 80 utilities and 20 000 customers • Capacity installed: 2 500 kWp • Annual generation: 2,2 GWh • Unit energy cost: CHF 1,0 - 1,2 (approximately USD 0,63 - 0,75) • Total investment: CHF 30 million (approximately USD 19 million) • Information: Pius Huesser, Nova Energie, Fax: +41 62 834 0323