Switzerland’s Parliament and Government Address Energy Storage with Power-to-X among others
Power-to-X technologies are increasingly gaining attention in Switzerland’s political debate. A recently submitted parliamentary initiative (“Motion” 25.3943) in the Swiss Federal Assembly highlights the growing relevance of these technologies for the country’s energy transition and industrial policy. It was adopted by the government on 11 March. The proposal reflects a broader recognition that Power-to-X could play an important role in enabling the use of renewable electricity in sectors that are difficult to electrify directly.
“The Federal Council is instructed to develop an energy storage strategy together with a corresponding action plan. The strategy should define realistic expansion targets for the various types of storage and identify fields of action as well as concrete measures. It should include scenarios outlining how storage capacity can be achieved in different sectors and according to which milestones. To this end, a distinction between short-term and long-term storage is required, along with an analysis of the potential of different storage technologies, in particular battery storage, thermal storage, hydrogen and other synthetic energy carriers. The aim is to optimize the overall energy system through sector coupling and to create effective incentives for investment in suitable storage solutions and for their grid- and system-supportive operation. The strategy should in particular explain which framework conditions must be created to support the scale-up of electricity storage, enabling storage systems to relieve the grid and contribute to grid stability.“
Power-to-X refers to a group of technologies that convert renewable electricity into molecular energy carriers such as hydrogen or synthetic fuels. These energy carriers can be stored, transported and used in sectors such as aviation, shipping, heavy industry or long-term energy storage. By transforming electricity into fuels, Power-to-X helps integrate fluctuating renewable energy sources such as solar and wind into the energy system.
Power-to-X as a Key Element of Energy System Integration
One of the central advantages of Power-to-X is its ability to link different parts of the energy system. Renewable electricity can be converted into hydrogen via electrolysis, and this hydrogen can then be used directly or further processed into synthetic fuels such as e-kerosene, e-methanol or e-diesel. These fuels can serve as substitutes for fossil fuels in applications where direct electrification is difficult.
For countries like Switzerland, which have limited domestic renewable resources but strong industrial capabilities, Power-to-X also opens opportunities for international value chains. Synthetic fuels produced abroad using renewable electricity could be imported and used to defossilize sectors such as aviation and heavy transport.
Increasing Political Attention in Switzerland
The parliamentary initiative currently under consideration shows that the political discussion around Power-to-X is evolving. Policymakers are increasingly examining how regulatory frameworks, innovation support and infrastructure planning can enable the deployment of new energy carriers.
In Switzerland, discussions about Power-to-X are closely linked to several policy areas, including climate policy, energy security and industrial competitiveness. Supportive regulatory frameworks could help accelerate demonstration projects, strengthen research and development, and enable the creation of new markets for synthetic fuels.
Implications for Innovation and Industry
If Switzerland aims to remain competitive in emerging clean-energy technologies, the development of Power-to-X ecosystems will likely play an important role. This includes electrolysis capacity, CO₂ capture technologies, synthetic fuel production and logistics infrastructure.
As the parliamentary discussion continues, initiatives such as ours illustrate how Power-to-X is moving from a purely technological concept to a strategic element of energy and climate policy.
Source:
Swiss Federal Assembly – Parliamentary Initiative 2025 (Curia Vista database)