Switzerland

Introduction

By the end of 2025, Switzerland had 50 large wind turbines in operation, with a total rated power of 109 MW. These turbines generated 160.946 GWh of electricity in 2025. 1 wind turbine was repowered and 4 new were built in 2025 (wind parc Gütsch, see picture) and started generating energy only at the end of 2025 (December).

In 2025, Switzerland further strengthened its support scheme for renewable electricity. Wind project developers were granted the option to choose between an investment contribution and the newly introduced sliding market premium. To facilitate project development, the federal government also introduced planning grants covering up to 40% of eligible project planning costs [1].

To accelerate project realization, the Parliament and the Federal Council advanced the concentrated cantonal approval process, which will streamline wind project permitting and reduce the number of appeal stages as of 1 April 2026.

Internationally cross-linked research activities in 2025 focused on cold climates, complex terrain, and acceptance.

Market Development

Targets and Policy

Switzerland's current energy policy framework foresees a substantial expansion of renewable electricity generation. In the federal government's initial proposal, the required additional generation from new renewable sources (excluding hydropower) was set at 17 TWh by 2035 and 39 TWh by 2045, before the Parliament increased the targets to 35 TWh by 2035 and 45 TWh by 2045 [4]. In the Federal Office of Energy's Energy Perspectives 2050+, Switzerland's long‑term scenario anticipates an annual contribution of 4.3 TWh from wind energy by 2050.

A major step toward implementation was the revised Energy Ordinance (EnV) [5], which introduces explicit 2030 interim targets: 2.3 TWh of renewable electricity, including 18.7 TWh from photovoltaics and 2.3 TWh from wind, with the remainder coming from biomass, waste incineration, wood‑fuel plants and geothermal sources [6].

In parallel, several legislative measures were adopted in 2025 to accelerate renewable‑energy deployment. Parliament agreed on an acceleration decree that restructures approval pathways for large projects of national interest, reduces procedural complexity, limits appeal routes and transfers key decision‑making to cantonal authorities. This creates clearer and faster permitting processes for wind energy [7]. The Federal Office for Spatial Development describes the reform as a comprehensive modernization of the Energy Act, streamlining planning and legal procedures and improving predictability for project developers. The measures will enter into force progressively from 2026 and are expected to strengthen security of supply and support the long‑term energy transition [8].

Sector organizations emphasize that these changes substantially improve planning reliability. Developers will be able to submit applications based on maximum turbine dimensions rather than fixed turbine models, enabling technological updates later in the process. Combined with reduced appeal stages, this is expected to shorten development timelines and strengthen the feasibility of new wind projects [9].

Progress and Operational Details

Hydropower continues to dominate Switzerland's electricity mix, while wind energy maintains only a modest contribution. In 2025, the country's 50 operating turbines generated around 161 GWh—equivalent to a typical wind year—representing roughly 0.2% of national electricity generation. Nonetheless, recent examples show that delivery times can improve: In Canton Uri, four new turbines were planned, constructed and commissioned in just three and a half years, demonstrating that significantly faster implementation is possible compared to earlier multi‑decade timelines. Modern wind projects in Switzerland increasingly use multi‑megawatt turbines optimized for complex terrain and winter performance, aligning with the technology's growing role in seasonal supply security [10].

Switzerland's permitted wind portfolio remains modest but clearly structured. As of 2026, two approved wind parks comprising nine turbines are ready for construction, representing 24.6 MW of planned capacity and about 50 million kWh of expected annual generation [www.suisse‑eole.ch]. Beyond these, 19 wind‑energy projects are in formal permitting procedures, totaling 131 turbines, 452 MW of projected capacity and an estimated 789 million kWh of yearly production [11].

Matters Affecting Growth and Work to Remove Barriers

Long planning procedures continue to hinder the expansion of wind energy in Switzerland. Projects typically require approval across multiple administrative levels, and local votes often remain necessary. While national and local support for wind energy is generally strong, organized opposition frequently uses all legal appeal options, significantly slowing project timelines.

Most cantons have introduced combined land‑use and building‑permit procedures, and at national level several improvements to permitting are under discussion. The most advanced reform focuses on reducing the number of court instances involved in the final steps of authorization, aiming to shorten the overall process and support Switzerland's long‑term decarbonisation and security‑of‑supply goals.

RD&D Activities

National RD&D Priorities and Budget

The Swiss R&D priorities are organized around the plant, the turbine and innovative wind energy technologies [13].

Optimization of wind parks

• Development of data-related methods for the planning, layout and operation of wind parks;
• Development and validation of control strategies for optimizing overall operational performance (e.g. with respect to forecasts, shut-down algorithms).

Turbine optimization

• Component optimization, especially for the use of wind energy in complex terrain;
• Development and validation of components for use in cold climates and for accurate forecasting of ice formation;
• Noise abatement strategies.

In 2024, the budget for wind energy-related R&D and demonstration projects was approximately 3.44 million CHF (3.73 million EUR; 4.30 million USD). The total budget includes the national Wind Program of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, with approximately 0.4 million CHF allocated to the wind energy sector for information activities, quality assurance measures, and supporting regional and communal planning authorities [3].

The energy research statistic 2025 [12] will be available at the end of 2026 (waiting for data).

National Research Initiatives and Results

Ongoing Swiss research in 2025:

At EPFL the Wind Engineering and Renewable Energy Laboratory (WiRE) delivered several scientific results with direct relevance for wind‑farm design and operation. One study demonstrated how cyclic yaw control can be applied to redirect wake flows and improve overall farm production, offering new insights for optimizing turbine layout in mountainous terrain. The publication also advanced the understanding of turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer [14]. EPFL researchers further applied explainable artificial intelligence to short‑term wind‑power forecasting, showing that transparent models can reduce prediction errors and identify the key meteorological drivers of turbine output, thereby improving grid planning and operational reliability [15]. In addition, an SFOE‑supported EPFL project combined large‑eddy simulations, field measurements and physics‑informed AI techniques to build a next‑generation prediction and optimization framework suitable for Swiss terrain, increasing accuracy in wake modelling and energy‑yield estimation [16].

ETH Zurich played a key role in research addressing the systemic and societal dimensions of wind power. Within the EU‑funded WIMBY programme, ETH researchers contributed to a comprehensive review of environmental, socio‑economic and regulatory impacts of wind turbines. The study synthesized more than 400 publications and identified 14 priority research areas, including challenges in blade recycling, local climate effects and acceptance barriers in dense settlement areas [17].

The national SWEET‑EDGE consortium published in March 2026 white paper examined on Photovoltaic and Wind energy acceptance [18]. Among other findings it states that local leadership, trust and transparency are essential.

ETHZ, universities of Geneva www.unige.ch and Bern www.unibe.ch, EPFL, WSL www.wsl.ch, and ZHAW www.zhaw.ch contributed to the national SWEET‑EDGE modelling activities, which explored long‑term pathways for Switzerland's renewable‑energy transition and highlighted the strategic importance of significantly expanding wind production for winter security of supply [19].

Collaborative Research

Switzerland is involved in the following IEA Wind TCP Tasks:

• Task 11 Base Technology Information Exchange (Operating Agent)
• Task 43 Wind Energy Digitalization (Co-Operating Agent)
• Task 47 Aerodynamics (TURBINIA)
• Task 52 Large-Scale Wind Lidar
• Task 54 Cold Climate Wind Power
• Task 59 Working Together to Resolve Environmental Effects of Wind Energy (WREN)
• Task 60 Harmonised Life Cycle Assessment for Wind Power (Co-Operating Agent)

Impact of Wind Energy

Environmental Impact

The 2024 bird monitoring report for the Sainte-Croix wind farm, validated by the Canton of Vaud's environmental authority, shows the project meets all permit requirements with far lower wildlife impacts than expected (published Nov. 2025). Only four dead birds and four bats were found in 2024, with an estimated mortality of just 3–5 individuals per turbine annually—well below the allowed threshold [20].

Economic Benefits and Industry Development

The Swiss industry is active in several wind energy fields:

• Development and production of chemical products for rotor blades, such as resins or adhesives (Gurit Heberlein, SIKA, Huntsman, Clariant).
• Grid connection (Hitachi Energy, ABB).
• Development and production of power electronics such as inverters (ABB, VonRoll).
• Services in the field of site assessments and project development (Meteotest, Interwind, Basler & Hofmann, Emch + Berger etc.).

Next Term

Two Swiss popular initiatives could shape future regulations concerning wind‑energy projects negatively (voting date not yet known). The "Forest Protection Initiative" aims to amend the Federal Constitution so that wind turbines 30 meters or higher may not be built within forests or within 150 meters of forest and wooded pastures with more than 30 percent tree coverage. The "Municipal Protection Initiative" focuses on local democratic control, requiring that every wind‑energy installation receive approval not only from the municipality where it is located but also from neighboring municipalities that are particularly affected. Both initiatives additionally require that any installations constructed after May 1^st 2024 that violate these rules must be dismantled and the land restored to its previous condition. The Federal Council rejected both initiatives in October 2025, stating that existing legislation already addresses their concerns and warning that their adoption would significantly hinder the expansion of domestic wind‑power production, which is important for winter electricity security [21].

References

1. Swiss Federal Assembly (2025) Promotion of wind energy. Download from: Promotion of wind energy
2. Elektrizitätswerk Ursern (EW Ursern) (2026) Windkraftwerke – Nachhaltige Windenergie vom Gütsch. Download from: https://www.ew-ursern.ch/kraftwerke/windkraftwerke
3. Pro Wind Schweiz (2026) Download from: https://www.prowindschweiz.ch/
4. Swiss Federal Assembly (2025) Secure Electricity Supply from Renewable Energies (Federal Act; Parliamentary Proceedings 21.047). Download from: https://www.parlament.ch/de/ratsbetrieb/amtliches-bulletin/amtliches-bulletin-die-verhandlungen?SubjectId=60082
5. Swiss Federal Council (2025) Energy Ordinance (EnV, SR 730.01). Download from: https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2017/763/de
6. Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (UVEK) (2025) Consultation on Amendments to Energy Ordinances – Renewable Electricity Targets for 2030. Download from: https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/dvb52hRdMmNdS3aNKL96C
7. Swiss Federal Assembly (2025) Energy Act Amendment (Acceleration Decree / Beschleunigungserlass). Download from: https://www.parlament.ch/de/ratsbetrieb/suche-curia-vista/geschaeft?AffairId=20230051
8. Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE) (2026) Acceleration Decree for Renewable Energy Projects. Download from: https://www.are.admin.ch/de/beschleunigungserlass-erneuerbare-energien
9. Suisse Eole (2026) Approval Process for Wind Parks in Switzerland. Download from: https://suisse-eole.ch/de/windenergie/bewilligungsprozess/
10. Elektrizitätswerk Ursern (EW Ursern) (2026) Windkraftwerke – Nachhaltige Windenergie vom Gütsch. Download from: https://www.ew-ursern.ch/kraftwerke/windkraftwerke
11. Suisse Eole (2026) Schweizer Windparks und Projekte. Download from: https://suisse-eole.ch/de/windenergie/windparks/
12. Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) (2025) Energy Statistics. Download from: https://www.bfe.admin.ch/bfe/de/home/versorgung/statistik-und-geodaten/energiestatistiken.html
13. Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) (2025) Wind Energy Research Programme. Download from: https://www.bfe.admin.ch/bfe/en/home/research-and-cleantech/research-programmes/wind-energy.html
14. Wind Engineering and Renewable Energy Laboratory (WiRE), EPFL (2025) Research Activities of the Wind Engineering and Renewable Energy Laboratory. Download from: https://www.epfl.ch/labs/wire
15. Wenlong Liao and Fernando Porté-Agel (2025) Une nouvelle approche rend l'énergie éolienne plus compétitive. Download from: http://www.myscience.ch/de/news/2025/une_nouvelle_approche_rend_l_energie_eolienne_plus_competitive-2025-epfl
16. Fernando Porté-Agel (2025) SFOE Research Project No. 72839: Wind Energy Optimisation and Prediction Framework. Download from: http://www.aramis.admin.ch/Dokument?DocumentID=72839
17. ETH Zürich (2025) Die grösste Herausforderung ist die fehlende Akzeptanz für Windkraftanlagen. Download from: https://ethz.ch/de/news-und-veranstaltungen/eth-news/news/2025/01/die-groesste-herausforderung-ist-die-fehlende-akzeptanz-fuer-windkraftanlagen.html
18. SWEET EDGE Consortium (2026) Das zweite EDGE-Strategiepapier ist da!. Download from: Das zweite EDGE-Strategiepapier ist da! - SWEET EDGE
19. ETH Zürich (2025) Where Power Will Come From in 2050. Download from: https://ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2025/05/where-power-will-come-from-in-2050.html
20. Romande Energie (2025) Un suivi avifaune qui témoigne d'une intégration réussie du parc éolien de Sainte-Croix. Download from: https://www.romande-energie.ch/espace-presse/communiques-de-presse/un-suivi-avifaune-qui-temoigne-dune-integration-reussie-du-parc
21. Swiss Federal Council (2025) Bundesrat lehnt «Waldschutz-Initiative» und «Gemeindeschutz-Initiative» ab. Download from: https://www.admin.ch/de/newnsb/JdrffIR_8t_jhUFv3IdqX