Energy: Antje Kanngiesser, from Alpiq, speaks on nuclear power

We rushed to the SwissTech Convention Center at EPFL a few days ago. More than a thousand people responded to the invitation from Banque Cantonale Vaudoise for an “Conjoncture and perspectives” evening dedicated to the energy transition. A spicy detail of this meeting was in one of the presentations most applauded by these multiple representatives of the Vaud economy: that of the general director of Alpiq, Antje Kanngiesser. While the Liberal-Radical Party, close to economic circles, is among those who support a return of nuclear powerthe CEO of Alpiq gives a more nuanced speech.

“The four Swiss nuclear power plants have just received an award which highlights their excellence; we are therefore well equipped to continue to exploit them, launched Antje Kanngiesser. But, provided that the people accept it, we should not count on a new nuclear power plant in Switzerland for twenty years.”

Alpiq made headlines by leaving the EconomieSuisse associationwhich also campaigns for a return to nuclear power. But this is not the main reason, specifies the director: “We joined EconomieSuisse in 2020 with the idea of ​​having an impact. But we realized that it was not the right place to do this, since it is an umbrella association which brings together other associations, but not companies. We have therefore strengthened our involvement in other bodies, such as the Association of Swiss Electric Companies (AES), or the Umbrella Association for the Renewable Energy Economy and Energy Efficiency (aeesuisse).”

A “real” emergency

For the boss d’Alpiqwhich has stakes in two nuclear power plants in Switzerland, now is not the time to disperse forces. “We must continue research into nuclear power, but not divert our attention from the real emergency, which is the adaptation of the entire sector to the massive arrival of renewable energies.” Both individuals and businesses are turning to solar, notes Antje Kanngiesser, which will pose problems for operators of an electricity network which was not designed for this.

Like other operators, Alpiq recalls that the creation of the Swiss electricity system required enormous investments in the 1960s, amounting to 4% of GDP. While the world is changing with the energy transition, efforts to improve the network are today limited to 0.2% of GDP.

In front of the thousand BCV guests, Antje Kanngiesser reminded that nuclear power could not be a quick option. Due to lack of know-how, skills and supply chain, not to mention the political risks of such an undertaking, Switzerland will not be able to count on a new power plant for a long time.

The director of Alpiq is actually not the only one to make this speech. “All major electricity companies (Alpiq, BKW and Axpo) are following the same line: we must quickly increase our electricity production capacities,” recalls Antje Kanngiesser.

And nuclear power for the immediate future is not entirely successful in the ranks of the PLR ​​itself. Former Vaud Minister of Energy, PLR national advisor Jacqueline de Quattro holds a similar point of view. “I am not as convinced as my party about nuclear power, but I am open to new technologies and I support research in this area,” she said by telephone. But it is undisputed that fusion technology is not mature. In the meantime, we must move resolutely forward in the energy transition.”

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Alain Détraz has been a journalist for the Vaud section of “24 Heures” since 2005. After covering various areas of local news, he has been in charge of the Vaud Economy page since 2022.More info

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