The heatwave has had a marked impact on Switzerland’s hydro landscape. However, not all regions have been affected in the same way.
Luzzone dam Switzerland_© Oliver Förstner _ Dreamstime.com
Hydro electric plants in lowland areas have seen production fall as river flows have declined. Guillaume Gros, head of production at Romande Energie, told RTS that some small low-lying turbines were switched off in June because there wasn’t enough water in the rivers.
At the same time dams closer to Alpine snow have had 10% to 15% more water flow in to them than normal as high heat has accelerated the melting of the abundant snow that fell over the winter, according to experts in Geneva.
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Plants with dams or lakes benefiting from high snow melt are only starting to feel the effects of the heatwave, which combined with lower production by low-land turbines has begun to reduce Switzerland’s total hydro electricity output.
The situation is unlikely to cause a power shortage. Switzerland’s power grid is part of a large pool of ebbing and flowing electricity spanning 25 countries, known as the Continental European (EC) power grid. And, during the summer months, Switzerland is a net exporter of electricity.
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