Swissgrid is responsible for the project planning for and implementation of the transmission lines. The period from the start of a project through to the commissioning of the relevant line is currently around 15 years. However, objections and court judgements at a late stage often lead to significant delays in projects – and they can take up to 30 years.
Politics, the industry and the government have recognised that both project planning and the approval and court processes need to take place much more quickly in future. To accelerate the overall process, the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) has developed a series of measures as part of the «Electricity Grid Strategy». Swissgrid hopes that the strategy and the corresponding measures will be implemented as quickly as possible.
The SFOE and Swissgrid have undertaken to cooperate efficiently with one another to speed up the process.
The Swiss government's sectoral plan process
The process
The sectoral plan for transmission lines is the government’s overarching planning and coordination tool for the development and new construction of transmission lines (220 and 380 Kilovolt) and railway power lines (132 Kilovolt). The sectoral plan process is a regulatory process by way of which a line construction project is assessed from an area planning perspective, is reviewed in relationship with the existing and future utilizations as well as compatibility with the protected areas, and a planning corridor is defined.
Preparatory phase
Before the actual sectoral plan process can be launched, Swissgrid and the cantons involved conclude a coordination agreement. This guarantees that the interests of the cantons are incorporated into the planning at the earliest possible stage. The sectoral plan process starts with the submission of the application for inclusion in the sectoral plan for transmission lines (SÜL application) by Swissgrid, in which proposals for planning territories are put forward.
Phase 1
On the basis of the planning territory proposals made by Swissgrid in the SÜL application, the support group deployed by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) makes its recommendations. Within the planning territory, several corridor options should be possible.
Phase 2
Swissgrid draws up various corridor options within the defined planning territory. The support group then recommends one planning corridor using, if required, the «Evaluation Plan for Transmission Lines».
The government decides on both the planning territories and the planning corridor on the basis of the support group recommendations. The planning territories and the corridor are then set out in the sectoral plan based on these decisions. Within the planning corridor defined by the government, Swissgrid can then work out the concrete line routing during the detailed phase of the project, which follows the sectoral plan process.
Involvement options in the sectoral plan process
Support group
Die Begleitgruppe wird vom Bundesamt für der Planungsgebiete und bei The support group is put together by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE). It provides assistance with the definition of the planning territories and with the definition of the planning corridor and makes recommendations.
The support group comprises representatives of the interested Swiss federal offices (ARE, SFOE, BAV, etc.) and of the ESTI, the ElCom, the cantonal authorities involved, organisations under private law (e.g. environmental protection organisations) and Swissgrid. Independent experts are also asked to assist where necessary.
Consultation and cooperation process in accordance with Art. 19 of the Area Planning Directive (RPV)
Prior to the relevant definitions being laid down by the government, any private person may issue a statement on the support group recommendations by way of the consultation and cooperation process.
