Switzerland

Stratégie hydrogène pour la Suisse

The Swiss strategy has four guiding principles:

• Focus on hydrogen produced from carbon neutral processes, namely from renewable or nuclear energy. For derivates of hydrogen, these should be produced with carbon derived from sustainable biomass.
• Hydrogen and derivatives should be used where it makes the most economic and ecological sense.
• Hydrogen has a role in strengthening security of supply.
• Domestic hydrogen market should be integrated in Europe.
• The development of hydrogen infrastructure needs to cover the entire value chain.

PRODUCTION

Regarding costs of green hydrogen, Switzerland will work towards establishing a framework of conditions so that the price of renewable hydrogen reaches parity with that of fossil fuels. Hydrogen production can be supported via existing instruments for renewables, but it will be subject to development of a roadmap to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The current support framework authorises a call for tenders for electrolysers and storage technologies.

Until development of hydrogen transport infrastructure, national demand will need to be covered by local production, with development taking place over the entire value-chain (production, processing, storage, HRS), with carbon capture for derivatives from sustainable biomass or DACC. 

Local authorities are recommended to revisit their planning and permitting processes to reduce obstacles in the construction of hydrogen facilities (production & transport).

Hydrogen production should take place on market-based principles. Incentives need to be defined so that hydrogen is produced when electricity supply exceeds electricity demand without flexibility.

TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION

Integration of Switzerland into the wider European hydrogen infrastructure is of critical importance, with the expected transmission pipeline connecting Italy, France and Germany through Switzerland to be adapted in the mid-2030s to enable imports of hydrogen. Until 2035 hydrogen production will take place in electricity production facilities or be located near large hydrogen consumers, therefore network infrastructure costs will be reduced to a minimum to limit costs of development. In principle it is for consumers to finance the connection to the European hydrogen backbone, however the need for a grant of financial guarantees for the extension, or adaptation of the gas transit pipeline will be examined. Initially, the hydrogen network can be developed from industrial hydrogen consumers or multi-energy hubs and afterwards will be connected to the European backbone.

A key topic in the strategy is storage. Several measures are foreseen as it is fundamental to ensure that Swiss energy suppliers can access storage capacities, including those of neighbouring countries. Financial aid will be granted in the 2025-2030 period intended to encourage innovative technologies and processes in storage. A national subsoil exploration programme to determine potential for creating underground storage facilities is being developed. Hydrogen storage is supported for network installations which transform electricity into hydrogen or syngas. Operators of facilities for compulsory reserves must examine whether existing or new infrastructure for fossil fuels and can be used for storage of synthetic energy. A roundtable on energy storage will be convened, especially to identify possible solutions and sites for seasonal underground or surface storage.

A revision of the ordinances on safety rules for pipelines is scheduled for July 2025. There is a possibility to use remunerations for networks which finance investments in hydrogen infrastructure, this will be allowed to network operators if necessary. 

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

R&D will continue to be supported through national funds and focus is associating Switzerland with the Horizon Europe programme.

CROSS-CUTTING

Priority is on developing the legal framework focusing on norms, standards, appropriate incentives and adaptation of procedures and authorisations for hydrogen facilities, as well as safety measures. From 2025, a system of GOs for RFNBOs and hydrogen will be operational, which will be expanded in stages to include derivatives. Local authorities are invited to develop their own strategies for hydrogen and renewable gases and to ensure that training is provided to guarantee qualified personnel. 

Regarding statistics, the national energy outlook will be updated to account for the potential needs for hydrogen and derivatives, as well as further monitoring of the development of the hydrogen market. 

Switzerland will work on international cooperation with European and non-European countries following a hydrogen export strategy. An electricity agreement with the EU includes a clause on the possibility of extension to the hydrogen sector.

END-USES

Hydrogen and its derivatives should be used where economically and ecologically appropriate. Expected uses are primarily in industry (high temperature heat), combined heat and power plants to cover peak loads, heat networks and reserve power plants and in certain cases in the transport sector (aviation, maritime and heavy goods transport). To avoid conversion losses, hydrogen should be used where competitive with other CO₂-neutral energy sources.

Mobility

Switzerland will use the existing mechanisms to create tenders for HRS. To ensure equal costs,   CO₂ tax levied on fossil fuels will be increased and hydrogen used as fuel is not subject to mineral oil tax or CO₂ tax. CO₂ emissions in road traffic for passenger cars and light-commercial will be strengthened. FCEV benefit from an exemption of mineral oil tax and a heavy-goods vehicles charge.

Industry

Hydrogen and derivatives purchased abroad and injected in natural gas grid can be considered in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) for industrial companies.

Energy

Hydrogen can be produced when electricity market prices are low and can be used in winter, subject to the availability of storage facilities in Switzerland or neighbouring countries. Storage of derivatives can be carried out in existing facilities for fossil fuels. The possibility of sector-coupling will define the framework for the planning and construction of the electricity network and pipeline networks (gas, heat, CO₂, hydrogen).