Will New Areas Uncovered by Glacier Melt Boost Swiss Hydropower and Clean Energy Goals?

"A report from the Swiss Federal Council states that terrain newly exposed by glacier melt may allow for expanded hydropower infrastructure. Facilities in these areas could generate up to 3,900 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy annually by 2050, enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes. The Swiss Ministry of Energy has already selected a set of hydropower projects to prioritize, several of which are on the newly exposed land, setting in motion the process to exploit this potential."

"Switzerland is a federal republic made up of 26 cantons, or member states, each with significant autonomy. The Federal Council, the country's executive branch, released the 2025 report in response to a 2021 motion reflecting growing legislative interest in the potential for hydropower infrastructure near glaciers. The Parliament-made up of the Council of States and the National Council, similar to the United States' Senate and House of Representatives-initiated and passed a law that eases planning for new hydropower projects."

"Lands near glaciers, which are exposed to cycles of thawing and freezing as glaciers advance and retreat, are called periglacial areas. In the last 40 years, Switzerland has lost over 300 square kilometers of glacier area, significantly expanding the periglacial landscape. Some of these areas could be used for new or expanded reservoirs and for hydropower plants. Historically, glaciers have been a vital source of freshwater in Switzerland."

Glacier melt is expanding periglacial terrain in Switzerland, creating new areas potentially suitable for hydropower infrastructure. Facilities on newly exposed land could generate up to 3,900 GWh annually by 2050, supplying hundreds of thousands of homes and contributing to Energy Strategy 2050 targets. The Swiss Ministry of Energy has prioritized several projects on this terrain and initiated planning steps. Implementation will require addressing environmental, legal, and regulatory challenges. Switzerland’s federal structure with 26 cantons and recent parliamentary legislation easing planning affect project development. Collaborative planning and regulatory efforts are underway to manage risks while evaluating reservoir and plant siting on newly exposed periglacial landscapes.

Read at State of the Planet