Energy DemandEnergy Supply at Its Limits: Balancing the Expansion of Digital Infrastructure with Renewable EnergyLéa Wilson, Chanelle Pfenninger, and Adele Galli

The Swiss electricity sector is defined by the co-dependency of various actors. Among them are Axpo, the main producer, who generates around 40 % of Switzerland’s electricity. Electricity transmission is managed by Swissgrid, the publicly owned national grid operator. Regional distribution to households and businesses is carried out by companies such as EKZ.

What would happen if data centres consumed half of Switzerland’s electricity capacity? This scenario raises questions about energy demand, import of electricity, environmental impacts, rising electricity prices, and effects for local businesses.

We demand stricter guidelines about energy consumption and the source of the energy used of the big tech data centres in Switzerland.

The Intermunicipal Data Centres are supplied by renewable energy, produced by infrastructures located within the intermunicipal border. These locations create social interaction points for the community.

Renewable energiues will power the Intermunicipal Data Centres in the future. The new solar and wind parks will be multifunctional sites of energy production and civic life.