Swiss electricity greener, cleaner than ever: report

GENEVA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Electricity consumed in Switzerland is ever greener and cleaner, with more than 62 percent of electric power from renewable sources and nuclear down to 17 percent, according to a latest report by the Federal Office of Energy on Monday.

The report, which refers to statistics in 2016, gathers each year the sources used by electricity providers in Switzerland. As expected, hydropower, accounting for 56 percent, is the biggest source of electricity, marking an increase of 2.5 percentage points on the previous year. Other renewables, including solar, wind, biomass and small-scale hydropower, made up 5.9 percent, a one-point increase on 2015.

Together that means just over three-fifths of electricity provided in the country in 2016 came from renewable sources, due in part to the slight decline in the use of nuclear from 20.7 to 17 percent.

Another 20 percent comes from unverified sources. The Federal Office of Energy explains that energy used by high-consuming businesses is often bought on the European market and is not traced within Switzerland. Much of it may be fossil fuel burning.

Overall the figures tie in closely with the government's Energy Strategy 2050, a sweeping plan endorsed by voters last year that aims to completely phase out nuclear by the mid-point of the century, as well as to promote renewable sources and reduce consumption.

The Federal Office of Energy also noted that the electricity consumption figures should not be confused with those for overall energy produced. Due to reasons of import and export, overall about 59 percent of the production total is hydropower, 33 percent remains nuclear, five percent other renewable, and three percent fossil fuels. Enditem