Switzerland already gets an impressive 94% of its electricity from low-carbon sources. Over the twelve months from August 2025 through July 2026, hydropower supplied more than half of electricity consumption, nuclear almost a quarter, solar around 13%, and biofuels about 3%. Fossil sources accounted for just 2%, while net imports supplied roughly 4%; the imports’ generation mix is not specified here. With electricity already overwhelmingly clean, the next challenge is to electrify transport, heating and industry, which will require much more electricity.

Is Electricity Growing in Switzerland?

The latest figures do not show growth relative to Switzerland’s historical per-person records, although they do not establish the year-on-year trend. In 2026, electricity consumption stood at around 7,600 kWh per person, about 2,440 kWh—or 24%—below the 2001 record of roughly 10,000 kWh. Low-carbon electricity generation was around 7,100 kWh per person, approximately 2,500 kWh—or 26%—below its own 2001 record. These shortfalls are concerning as electrification and growing digital demand call for a larger supply of clean electricity.

Suggestions

Switzerland can build on its existing strengths by expanding nuclear and solar electricity generation. Maintaining and upgrading existing nuclear plants, alongside considering additional nuclear capacity, would strengthen a technology that already supplies almost a quarter of its electricity. Faster deployment of solar on rooftops, commercial buildings and other suitable sites would expand another substantial clean source. Together with stronger grids and storage, these investments could support growing electricity consumption while keeping fossil generation—and its associated climate and air-pollution impacts—very low.

History

Historically, Switzerland’s low-carbon electricity generation has experienced substantial annual changes. Hydropower fell by around 5–6 TWh in both 1984 and 1989, while nuclear generation increased by about 4 TWh in 1985. During the 1990s and early 2000s, hydro declines in 1995–1996 were followed by gains in 1997, 1999 and 2001, before another decline in 2002. Nuclear added about 4.5 TWh in 2006, while hydro gained roughly 6 TWh in 2012. Nuclear output then fell by 4.5 TWh in 2015, recovered by about 5 TWh in 2018, and experienced another decline in 2021 followed by a similar-sized recovery in 2022. Hydropower fell by 6 TWh in 2022 before strong gains of more than 7 TWh in each of 2023 and 2024. The sharp reversal in 2025—nearly 11 TWh less hydro and about 4.6 TWh less nuclear generation—underscores the urgency of strengthening and expanding Switzerland’s clean electricity supply.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Aug 2025 – Jul 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.