Abstract
Energy transition towards a sustainable system comprising various energy sources is a major challenge. We conducted a representative survey in the German-speaking part of Switzerland to elicit the population's preferences for electricity from solar, wind or natural gas under different institutional and site-specific conditions. Based on a choice experiment we found a consistent preference for electricity based on solar energy and - to a lesser degree - wind energy, built in existing industrial and commercial areas. We identified five distinct population groups, three of which have a very pronounced profile concerning energy attributes: ‘Pro Renewables', ‘Pro Switzerland’, and ‘Pro Landscape’. The largest two groups, 'Moderates' and ‘Contra Status Quo’ value attributes fairly equally. All groups except Pro Landscape prefer electricity from Switzerland, and all groups except Pro Switzerland accept imports of renewable electricity, preferably from plants operated by Swiss firms. We suggest that unfamiliarity rather than nationalism is at the root of opposition to imports of renewables. An energy mix focusing on renewables and including border-crossing electricity infrastructure could pave the way for a cost-efficient energy transition towards a sustainable and resilient electricity system. Our results show that it would also be publicly acceptable by the majority of the Swiss population.
Highlights
Energy transition towards a sustainable system that comprises various energy sources is a major challenge, especially given the large and diverse commercial and political interests involved
We found that the electricity source is the most important attribute for people's choices
Our results show that the source of electricity is the most important component
Summary
Energy transition towards a sustainable system that comprises various energy sources is a major challenge, especially given the large and diverse commercial and political interests involved. Switzerland is currently implementing its Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to (i) reduce energy consumption, (ii) close the four nuclear power plants that currently produce some 35% of Swiss electricity, and (iii) increase the use of renewable electricity, possibly with the use of natural gas as a backup or bridging technology This has led to the passing of a new federal Energy Law in 2016, upon which opposing politicians promptly started a people's initiative. Actual implementation of renewable energy technologies at the local level is often faced with strong opposition (Bidwell, 2013; Wüstenhagen et al, 2007) Contextual factors, such as institutional and site-specific conditions, have to be taken into account for each specific project (Jobert et al, 2007). This is the case in Switzerland, where people's initiatives can overrule policymakers' decisions on the federal, cantonal and municipal level
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