Security of supply, increasing grid usage and renewable energies are the challenges of tomorrow and, with these in mind, Swissgrid is already planning the modernisation of the Swiss transmission system.

Swiss power lines and the plants associated with them are on average 50 years old. Electricity consumption and therefore grid usage are constantly increasing.

Europe and Switzerland have set themselves ambitious climate targets. Electricity is increasingly to be produced sustainably and from renewable energies, which will bring new and different challenges for Europe's transmission systems.

To ensure the security of Switzerland's electricity supply in the coming decades, the grid must be expanded and upgraded over the next ten years. Around 40 expansion projects have so far been identified and more will be added. Some examples:

• Nodes and grid connections need to be strengthened.
• The removal of energy generated from pumped storage power plants needs to be improved.
• Individual sections of the transmission system will have to be converted from 220 to 380 kV.

The investment required for this upgrading will be around CHF 4.5 billion; expanding the grid is expected to require another CHF 1.5 billion.

Planning the 2020 strategic network is an ambitious project for the Swiss energy industry. A simultaneous expansion of grids and power plants will be needed to ensure security of supply in Switzerland.