Should an electricity shortage actually occur in Switzerland due to the geopolitical crisis and supply bottlenecks, it is essential that freight transport customers can continue to be served. This means that the transport companies must clarify their energy needs in the event of a shortage and answer some key questions today.
The Swiss railways play a decisive role in coping with the high demand for both passenger and freight transport. They depend on a secure supply of electrical energy.
Ensuring supply via rail
If at some point the available traction current is no longer sufficient for all scheduled trains, journeys would have to be cancelled accordingly. The question is: which ones? We at the VAP are firmly committed to ensuring that our members can continue to serve all freight transport customers. The population and the economy depend on reliable transport chains. That is why freight trains must continue to run as long as possible even in a power shortage situation – as they did, by the way, in the thinned-out timetable during Covid-19.
Political leadership needed
The Swiss railway system is almost exclusively electrically powered. Most of the required traction current (16.7 Hz) comes from the country’s own hydroelectric power plants. Shifting transports from rail to road when there is a shortage of traction current is not very promising. In the event of a serious bottleneck, fossil fuels would also become scarcer. In order to maintain functioning transport chains, the companies involved in rail transport also need industrial electricity (50 Hz). Here, too, security of supply must be ensured. Security and reliability are required: The transport sector and the freight railways must be able to rely on the political leadership in the event of a crisis. Because even then, goods trains have to roll as long as there is demand. We want to strengthen this awareness among decision-makers.
Energy shortage not excluded
Let’s not fool ourselves: An unfavourable coincidence of really negative developments could manoeuvre Switzerland into a serious energy shortage situation as early as next winter. As representatives of the electricity and gas industries explained at the Economiesuisse webinar on 9 August 2022, energy supply is highly complex and dependent on many influences.
The Confederation assumes responsibility
The Confederation is aware of its responsibility. It takes measures to secure the energy supply and prepares for critical scenarios of an acute power shortage. Depending on the situation, these measures range from voluntary, industry-specific
industry-specific savings appeals to prescribed management measures (quota system).
Determine demand and savings potential
If you think about your own energy needs now, you will be prepared for an actual electricity shortage and less likely to be surprised. So it is time to assess your energy needs, reserves, alternatives and savings potential. This assessment helps to decide how, in the event of an electricity shortage, to reduce consumption in line with higher-level targets and still contribute to the supply of essential goods. Concrete questions in the company are, for example:
- Which activities require how much energy, what is their importance in production?
- What is the most effective energy-saving potential?
- How large are the reserves, how much energy can be dispensed with and for how long?
- Where can we switch to other energy sources and how quickly?
- Is communication in the production chains good? Are the contacts up to date?
- What restrictions do we implement to meet a quota?
Cooperation and communication
Companies should be open about these considerations. After all, it is not possible to predict which scenarios will actually occur at which point in time. The players in the sector can maintain the supply of important goods as well as possible if they cooperate across companies and communicate actively. That is why we at the VAP, as representatives of the shippers, are already actively involved in various committees and working groups.
