“Integration of the Swiss energy system into the European energy policy” – Complementary study within the framework of NRP 70 and 71

The image shows technicians on an electricity pylon.

The complementary study within the framework of NRP 70 and 71 examines the main focuses of the current and expected future energy policies of Switzerland and Europe.

The complementary study entitled “Integration of the Swiss energy system into the European energy policy“, headed by Prof. Matthias Finger from the EPFL and Prof. Peter Hettich from the University of St.Gallen, examines the main focuses of the current and expected future energy policies of Switzerland and Europe.

The objective of the complementary study is to find out what the Europeanisation of Swiss energy policy means for the Swiss energy system with respect to the achievement of the goals set under the Energy Strategy 2050 and the EU compatibility of Swiss policy instruments.

The study examines the differences and regulatory gaps between the European and Swiss legal frameworks. It considers both the applicable legal provisions and the legislative proposals presented by the European Commission in its “Clean Energy for All Europeans” package (also referred to as “Winter package”). The formal legal analysis is supplemented by a qualitative political science analysis in order to identify the effects of EU standards on Swiss practice. On the basis of a policy impact assessment, the question is raised whether the Europeanisation of the Swiss funding policy for renewable energies tends to benefit or impair the corresponding investments of various private players.