Switzerland announces higher feed-in-tariffs for geothermal power generation
Flag thrower, Switzerland (source: flckr/ Jessica Gardner, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
17 Aug 2018
New feed-in-tariffs for hydro-thermal and petro-thermal geothermal have been put forward that would lift maximum tariffs from up to $0.48 to $0.54/ kWh for plants sized 5 MW and below with lower values for installations of larger sizes.
As reported this week by Geothermie Schweiz, the Swiss Geothermal Association, the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (Bundesamt fuer Energie) has adapted the Energy Promotion Ordinance and put it into the consultation. Accordingly, the feed-in tariff for geothermal energy is planned to be increased. For hydrothermal geothermal energy, a maximum remuneration of between CHF 0.292 and CHF 0.465 per kilowatt-hour is envisaged, depending on the capacity. For petrothermal geothermal energy, the maximum rates are now between CHF 0.367 and CHF 0.54 per kilowatt hour. (for different currencies see below)
Overview: Remuneration rates today and planned
According to the consultation documents, the increases are necessary to give developers and investors sufficient planning and investment security. The adjustments ensure that ongoing projects are continued and exploration of the deep underground in Switzerland is continued. Today, this underground is virtually unknown.
The consultation will run until 31 October 2018. The new rates are expected to enter into force on 1 April 2019. The feed-in tariff will be paid for 15 years. It can be assumed that the increase in the consultation will not remain undisputed. The same adaptation of the regulation reduces the pricing approaches to photovoltaics.
Source: Geothermie Schweiz
