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Energy sovereignty March 2026 6 min read

Switzerland still imports most of its energy. What does solar change?

Editorial responsibility: Franck Tournier · Report a fix

TL;DR

Solar power does not replace either diesel trucks or all the heating in the existing fleet. On the other hand, it very well replaces part of the electricity purchased from the network, exactly where Switzerland has a local resource available: roofs.

The real problem isn't just the price, it's the dependency

When a country imports most of its energy, it also imports part of its vulnerability. The subject is not only “how much does the kWh cost this year”, but also “who controls the supply, the logistics and the rate of increases”. This is what makes local production so strategic.

Why solar answers a very specific question

Photovoltaics does not replace everything. It replaces something very concrete: daytime kWh, produced directly on the building, where they are consumed. On a house, a business or a building, this reduces network purchases at a time when the building often already has active demand.

Good reasoning for an owner

You should not expect a roof to “save the system”. You should ask him if he can reduce your exhibition. If the answer is yes, you are moving part of your energy budget from an expense recurring and imported into a local, sustainable and productive asset. This is precisely where solar changes the equation.

Frequently asked questions

To say that Switzerland imports 80% of its energy, is that still true?+

Yes, this order of magnitude remains used by federal authorities to describe the country's overall energy dependence. This especially includes imported fuels.

Is solar energy enough to make Switzerland independent?+

No. This is one lever among others. But it is one of the quickest to deploy on the scale of existing buildings, without waiting for large centralized projects.

Does solar already count in the Swiss mix?+

Yes. Recent statistics show that it already represents a significant share of annual electricity production, and its contribution continues to increase rapidly.

Sources & method

Economic supply of the country on the share of imported energy. Recent federal statistics and PV updates on the growing share of solar in Switzerland. OFEN on security of supply.

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