Switzerland stands as a global leader in clean electricity generation, achieving the impressive feat of sourcing 100% of its electricity from low-carbon sources over the past year, spanning from September 2024 to August 2025. Relying substantially on hydropower and nuclear energy, more than half of its electricity comes from hydropower, accounting for about 53% of total consumption. Complementing this, a significant portion, almost 38%, is generated from nuclear energy, providing a reliable and extensive base of power. Solar energy, although contributing close to 9%, adds an important and growing component to the country’s energy mix. Notably, Switzerland is a significant net exporter of electricity, enhancing efforts to reduce emissions in neighboring regions. The country's next challenge is to expand its electricity supply as it moves to power other sectors with clean electricity, thus broadening the use of electricity in transport, heating, and industry.
Is Electricity Growing in Switzerland?
However, despite Switzerland's accomplishments in sustainable energy, the current trajectory of electricity consumption is concerning. Recent data reveals that electricity consumption per person in 2025 reached 6275 kWh, which still falls short of the previous record of 10024 kWh per person set in 2001. This reflects a significant reduction of nearly 3748 kWh. The production of low-carbon electricity, equal to total consumption at 6275 kWh per person, similarly shows a decrease of around 3372 kWh from its peak in 2001. This stagnation in growth indicates that Switzerland must address its current consumption model to accommodate and support the expansion of electrified sectors and foster sustainable development.
Suggestions
To meet the growing demands from these dynamic sectors, Switzerland should focus on increasing its low-carbon electricity generation. A promising path forward lies in the expansion and enhancement of nuclear capacity, which already contributes a substantial share to the country's clean energy lineup. With its high output and low emissions, nuclear power offers a reliable means to secure the necessary growth in clean electricity. Moreover, further investment in solar installations can bolster the clean energy portfolio, capitalizing on technological advancements to improve efficiency and scalability. Together, these strategies not only reinforce Switzerland's clean energy leadership but also ensure a resilient and sustainable energy future.
History
The history of Switzerland's low-carbon electricity generation has seen its share of fluctuations and growth. During the mid-to-late 1980s, hydropower experienced some declines, losing over 5 TWh in multiple years, while nuclear energy provided a notable increase in 1985 with an additional 4.1 TWh. The late 1990s witnessed a rebound in hydropower, with significant increases in 1997 and 1999, adding 5.1 and 6.4 TWh respectively. A noteworthy surge in hydropower occurred in 2012, with a 6.2 TWh increase. In contrast, nuclear power generation fluctuated, including a decline in 2015, yet demonstrated its resilience with increments in 2006 and 2018. The recent boosts in hydropower between 2023 and 2024 underline Switzerland’s capability to adapt and expand its clean energy sources, although the significant decline in 2025 highlights the critical need for a more robust and consistent approach to maintaining and increasing low-carbon energy production.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.