Small power station generator set in Zurich Switzerland

The use of hydropower generates a turnover of around CHF 1.8 billion (at a price of CHF 5/kWh per power station) and is an important part of the Swiss energy economy.

Around 63 % of this energy comes from the mountain cantons of Uri, Graubünden, Ticino and Valais. Significant quantities of hydropower are also produced in the cantons of Aargau and Berne. Approximately 11 % of Swiss hydropower comes from bi-national plants located along border waterways. Switzerland's long-term climate strategy

Hydropower is one of the world's oldest energy sources, and is capable of generating electricity efficiently and with low environmental and climate impact. On 1 January 2022, Switzerland had 682 hydropower plants with an output of more than 300 kW in operation.

Thanks to its topography and high levels of annual rainfall, Switzerland has ideal conditions for the utilisation of hydropower.

With the 20-franc silver coin “Hydropower”, issued on 9 September 2021, Swissmint is supporting renewable energies and the use of sustainable resources. This is the first coin in Switzerland to be issued in colour and with fluorescent elements that glow in the dark.

PSPP Shi Shan Ling, China The technology was first applied in Zurich, Switzerland, in the early 1890s, when a local river was hydraulically connected with a nearby lake via a small pumped storage plant. Pumped storage hydroelectric projects have been commercially providing energy storage capacity and grid stabilizing benefits since the 1920s.