Switzerland - Electricity production from hydroelectric sources (% of total)

Electricity production from hydroelectric sources (% of total) in Switzerland was 57.88 as of 2015. Its highest value over the past 55 years was 99.15 in 1961, while its lowest value was 49.82 in 2006.

Definition: Sources of electricity refer to the inputs used to generate electricity. Hydropower refers to electricity produced by hydroelectric power plants.

Source: IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA 2014 (http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp), subject to https://www.iea.org/t&c/termsandconditions/

See also:

Year Value
1960 99.13
1961 99.15
1962 98.85
1963 98.81
1964 98.55
1965 97.92
1966 97.54
1967 96.88
1968 95.48
1969 92.42
1970 88.88
1971 86.19
1972 76.76
1973 75.79
1974 74.85
1975 77.89
1976 71.90
1977 77.92
1978 75.46
1979 69.41
1980 68.10
1981 68.45
1982 69.20
1983 67.86
1984 60.88
1985 57.71
1986 58.19
1987 58.97
1988 59.97
1989 55.39
1990 54.18
1991 56.39
1992 56.08
1993 58.78
1994 59.72
1995 56.50
1996 51.10
1997 54.92
1998 53.72
1999 58.25
2000 55.70
2001 58.13
2002 53.79
2003 53.24
2004 52.84
2005 54.03
2006 49.82
2007 53.06
2008 53.76
2009 53.58
2010 54.59
2011 51.50
2012 56.65
2013 55.97
2014 54.26
2015 57.88

Development Relevance: Electrical energy from hydropower is derived from turbines being driven by flowing water in rivers, with or without man-made dams forming reservoirs. Presently, hydropower is the world's largest source of renewable electricity. Hydropower represents the largest share of renewable electricity production. It was second only to wind power for new-built capacities between 2005 and 2010. IEA estimates that hydropower could produce up to 6,000 terawatt-hours in 2050, roughly twice as much as today. Hydropower's storage capacity and fast response characteristics are especially valuable to meet sudden fluctuations in electricity demand and to match supply from less flexible electricity sources and variable renewable sources, such as solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind power. Use of energy is important in improving people's standard of living. But electricity generation also can damage the environment. Whether such damage occurs depends largely on how electricity is generated. For example, burning coal releases twice as much carbon dioxide - a major contributor to global warming - as does burning an equivalent amount of natural gas. Anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions result primarily from fossil fuel combustion and cement manufacturing. In combustion different fossil fuels release different amounts of carbon dioxide for the same level of energy use: oil releases about 50 percent more carbon dioxide than natural gas, and coal releases about twice as much. Nuclear energy does not generate carbon dioxide emissions, but it produces other dangerous waste products.

Limitations and Exceptions: IEA occasionally revises its time series to reflect political changes. For example, the IEA has constructed historical energy statistics for countries of the former Soviet Union. In addition, energy statistics for other countries have undergone continuous changes in coverage or methodology in recent years as more detailed energy accounts have become available. Breaks in series are therefore unavoidable.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Electricity production is total number of kWh generated by power plants separated into electricity plants and CHP plants. The International Energy Agency (IEA) compiles data on energy inputs used to generate electricity. IEA data for countries that are not members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are based on national energy data adjusted to conform to annual questionnaires completed by OECD member governments. In addition, estimates are sometimes made to complete major aggregates from which key data are missing, and adjustments are made to compensate for differences in definitions. The IEA makes these estimates in consultation with national statistical offices, oil companies, electric utilities, and national energy experts.

Aggregation method: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

General Comments: Electricity production shares may not sum to 100 percent because other sources of generated electricity (such as geothermal, solar, and wind) are not shown. Restricted use: Please contact the International Energy Agency for third-party use of these data.

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Energy production & use