Switzerland profile

Overview

From 2000 to 2022, Switzerland’s total final energy demand decreased from 18.8 to 16.8 Mtoe (i.e., by 11% or by 0.5% p.a. on average). The transport sector remained the largest consumer of final energy (32%), closely followed by the residential sector (30%). The third and fourth rank are taken by the industry sector (20%) and the service sector (18%). These shares refer to 2022 and have hardly changed since the year 2000, however with a slight upward trend for transport and the residential sector and, in turn, a slightly decreasing share for industry and the service sector. The final energy share of agriculture remains below 1%. 

Overall nation-wide energy efficiency of Switzerland improved at the rate of 1.8% p.a., as measured by the ODEX from 2000 to 2022 (33% total improvement in this period). The energy efficiency of the industry sector improved at a rate of 2.6% p.a., making it the fastest improving sector in Switzerland. Energy efficiency in buildings (service sector and households) improved by very respectable rates of 2.0% p.a., whereas the transport sector improved its energy efficiency only by 0.9% p.a.

In May 2017, the Swiss electorate approved the Federal Energy Act to advance the energy transition by adopting new and modifying existing measures to reduce consumption, increase efficiency, and promote renewables. It was the first step under the Energy Strategy 2050.

Since then, the Act has undergone several revisions. In 2021, investment contributions were expanded to include all renewables, such as wind and geothermal. In 2022, urgent measures to address winter power supply were introduced, mandating solar systems for large new buildings and prioritizing alpine PV projects. In 2024, the Federal Act on a Secure Electricity Supply set new renewable and hydroelectricity targets for 2035 and 2050, as well as new reference values for energy and electricity consumption.

Additionally, a new Climate Protection Act was adopted in 2023, establishing the net-zero target for 2050, emissions reduction paths, and sector-specific goals for buildings, transport, and industry, with a requirement and support for businesses to achieve net-zero emissions.

The revised CO2 Act of 2024 set climate targets and specific measures through 2030, with the Climate Protection and CO2 Ordinances operationalized in January 2025. These initiatives align Switzerland’s long-term climate policy with the Paris Agreement.

Buildings

For space heating of households, final energy consumption per m2 decreased very significantly, i.e. by 36% from 2000 to 2022 or by 2.0% p.a. In comparison, the unit consumption for water heating per dwelling decreased at a clearly lower rate (by 1.2%). The unit consumption for cooking slightly decreased (by 0.4% p.a.), while it remained unchanged for electric appliances (with lighting).

In 2022, space heating accounted for 65% of the residential sector’s final energy demand (with climate correction), electric appliances for 16%, water heating for 14% and cooking for 4%. While final energy demand for space heating (climate corrected) decreased by 0.7% p.a. from 2000 to 2022, final energy demand of electric appliances increased by 1.2% p.a. over the same period. Final energy demand for water heating remained unchanged and cooking increased by 0.8% p.a.. In total, residential final energy demand decreased slightly by 0.3% p.a. from 2000 to 2022 primarily due to improved energy efficiency of space heating.

The final energy consumption of residential buildings was by 0.7 Mtoe lower in 2022 than in 2000. More dwellings (increase by 1.43 Mtoe) and lifestyles (0.71 Mtoe for “more appliances per dwelling” and 0.24 Mtoe for “larger homes”) led to higher energy consumption (by 2.38 Mtoe). This growth was only slightly overcompensated by energy savings (2.58 Mtoe). Thanks to the warmer climate (reduction by 0.26 Mtoe) and some other effects (likewise leading to a further reduction by 0.26 Mtoe) the total decrease of final energy consumption was somewhat more meaningful (0.7 Mtoe, as mentioned above).     

Final energy consumption per floor area for the service sector decreased by 13% in total or 0.6% p.a. on average from 2000 to 2022. On the other hand, electricity consumption per area increased by 6 % p.a. or 0.3% p.a. over the same period.

Buildings account for about 44% of Switzerland's total energy consumption and a third of CO2 emissions. To address this, the Federal Government and cantons collaborate on the buildings program, promoting energy-efficient refurbishments, renewable energy investments, waste heat recovery, and optimized building services technology. Building owners can apply for subsidies, benefiting from financial support, lower heating costs, and higher property value.

Cantonal model regulations (German: MuKEn - Mustervorschriften der Kantone im Energiebereich; French: MoPEC - Modèle de prescriptions énergétiques des cantons) set minimum energy standards for new buildings, aiming to harmonize cantonal legislation across Switzerland. However, adoption varies by canton, sometimes delayed by referenda. The 2014 regulations were expected to be fully implemented by 2020, with updated regulations to be introduced in 2025.

 In 2022, the Conference of Cantonal Energy Directors adopted ten energy-strategic guidelines and the 2050+ buildings policy, reaffirming the net-zero target. Key measures include mandating renewable heating for new buildings and systems, expanding district heating networks, and dismantling gas grids or transitioning them to green hydrogen.

Finally, a CO2 levy on thermal fossil fuels, set at 120 CHF/tCO2 since 2022, incentivizes switching to renewables. One-third of the revenue funds the buildings program, further supporting Switzerland’s energy transition.

Transport

Total final energy use for transport was at the same level in 2022 as in the year 2020, after having reached higher levels (by up to 17%) in intermediate years. Road transport continued to represent the lion’s share of the sector's final energy consumption (93% in 2000 and 92% in 2022). Cars, which are responsible for by far most of road transportation energy and for its increase in intermediate years, slightly decreased their energy demand from 2000 to 2022. In contrast, the energy demand of all other transport modes except for domestic air transport (with a very small share) slightly increased from 2000 to 2022.

Across all transport modes,  passenger traffic (in person-kilometers) grew by significant 31% from 2000 to 2022. Transport with passenger cars (+29% or +1.2% p.a.) grew in line with the overall average, while transport in buses grew less (+19%, +0.8% p.a.), whereas transport in trains (+45% or +1.7% p.a.) grew by more than the overall average.

The total freight traffic (in tonne-kilometers) grew very moderately by 5% from 2005 to 2022 (equivalent to +0.3% p.a.; no data are available for the period 2000-2004). Freight by road and by trains grew similarly (by 6% and 4% respectively) from 2005 to 2022, whereas freight on rivers decreased (by 13%).

Total final energy demand of the transport sector decreased by 10% from 2000 to 2022 (-0.58 Mtoe). On the one hand, transport activity rose significantly, equivalent to an increase of final energy demand by 21%. On the other hand, this increase was overcompensated by energy savings (-18%), modal shift (-3%) and other effects (higher load factors) (-11%).

Various measures aim to reduce CO2 emissions and address fuel use externalities in transport. These include a mineral oil tax funding transport infrastructure and a heavy vehicle fee internalizing road transport costs. Both measures encourage fuel savings. While there is no CO2 tax on transport emissions, fuel importers must offset a portion of their emissions through GHG reduction projects. CO2 standards for new road vehicles align with EU policy to promote a cleaner fleet.

Additional measures include energy labels for vehicles and tires, informing buyers on fuel efficiency, and speed limits, which also lower fuel consumption. In aviation, emissions are addressed via the emissions trading system (since 2020) and blending quotas for sustainable fuels introduced under the 2025 CO2 Act revision.

Industry

Among the energy-intensive branches, only the paper and pulp industry’s share of final energy consumption decreased significantly relative to the total industry’s demand, i.e. from 13.4% in 2025 to 6.9% in 2022. In contrast, the final energy shares of metals, cement and chemicals hardly changed (by less than one percent point). The total share of all other branches (i.e., non-energy intensive branches) increased from 48% in 2005 to 55% in 2022.

Among the selected energy-intensive products (steel, cement and paper), the unit consumption (final energy per tonne) of paper improved most markedly (by 25% from 2005 to 2022, equivalent to 1.6% p.a.), followed by crude steel production (by 15% from 2005 to 2022, equivalent to 0.9% p.a.) and finally the production of cement (by 5% from 2005 to 2022, equivalent to 0.3% p.a.).

Despite overall growth in the activity level of industry, which increased consumption by 1.8 Mtoe in the period 2000 to 2022, the combined effect of energy savings (-2.23 Mtoe) and structural changes towards less energy-intensive manufacturing (-0.78 Mtoe) caused the total final energy demand of the industry sector to drop by 0.47 Mtoe or 13% over the total period. 

The central climate policy in the industry sector is the CO2 levy on fossil thermal fuels, fixed at 120 CHF/tCO2 since 2022. Large and GHG-intensive companies must participate in the emissions trading system which is linked to the EU ETS since 2020. These companies are exempted from the CO2 levy. Companies outside the ETS can commit to reduce their GHG emissions by entering into an emissions reduction target agreement; this allows them to be exempted from the CO2 levy.