Unprecedented measure in Basel-City which makes solar panels on the roofs compulsory

This decision should change the face of the Rhine city, which is setting an example. A building of the cantonal administration, for example, is completely covered with solar panels. On the initiative of the Greens, the Grand Council decided to impose photovoltaic cells on all the buildings of the city, old and new.

This measure stems from one of the 13 interventions transmitted Thursday evening by the cantonal Parliament to the government.

Underutilized potential

“The solar potential in Switzerland, and in particular in Basel, is immense, but it remains totally underused”, underlined Friday Jürg Stöcklin, Green MP, in the 12:45 of the RTS.

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— potato killer Mon Jul 31 12:13:51 +0000 2017

Currently, the canton produces 25 GWh of solar electricity per year. But according to a study by the Confederation, the potential in Basel for this energy would be 656 GWh per year. This represents nearly half of the current electricity consumption of Basel residents.

The homeowners association recognizes the significant potential of solar. Its president, Patricia von Falkenstein, however, judges that the 15-year period that the law would allow owners to install the panels is too short: "This period bothers us. There are many owners who have just made renovations. They do not won't be able to do it again in 15 years".

Critical Swiss heritage

The Swiss Heritage organization, for its part, criticizes the obligation to place solar cells on unprotected historic buildings. "If we put photovoltaics on all the roofs, then the image of the city will be destroyed", warns Andreas Häner, director of the Basel section of Swiss Heritage.

Basel is the first canton to impose solar power on almost all homeowners. The motion was passed by a large majority in Parliament. The government must now propose the best way to implement this constraint.

Jean-Marc Heuberger/jpr