
By the end of 2017, Switzerland had 37 large wind turbines in operation with a total rated power of 75 MW. These turbines produced 132 GWh of electricity. No new turbines were installed in 2017, but the 15 MW of additional capacity installed during 2016 caused a 20% increase is wind-generated electricity.
Switzerland has been utilizing a cost-covering feed-in-tariff (FIT) for renewable energy since 2009. This policy promoted wind energy and led to a boost of new wind energy projects.
Financing is currently requested for an additional 3.402 TWh under the FIT scheme. 2017 was marked by the Swiss people’s approval of the Energy Strategy 2050 in May, with an approval rate close to 60%. This opened the door for a new legislative package in favor of renewable energies and energy efficiency at the beginning of 2018.
Research activities are internationally cross-linked, mainly in the fields of cold climates, turbulent and remote sites, and social acceptance.