Energy use slightly higher in 2024
Bern, 19.06.2025 — In 2024 Switzerland's final energy consumption increased by 1% year-on-year to 776,220 tera-joules (TJ). The main reasons for this were the colder weather compared to the previous year and the increase in aviation fuel sales.
The number of heating degree days, an important indicator of energy consumption for heating purposes, increased by 0.5% year-on-year. Other factors that determine the long-term growth trend in energy consumption also increased in 2024: the permanent resident population (+1.3%), gross domestic product (+1.3%), the motor vehicle stock (+0.9%) and the housing stock (increase; no detailed figures yet available). The annual retrospective analyses will provide further information on the factors influencing developments in energy consumption (publication in October 2025).
Increase in fuel consumption
Aviation fuel sales again sharply increased by 9.1% year-on-year but remain still below 2019 levels. Petrol and diesel consumption fell by 2.1% overall in 2024 (petrol: -1.1%, diesel: -2,9%). Fossil fuels accounted for about one third (34.9%) of total final energy consumption. There was a significant year-on-year rise in the consumption of biogenic fuels (+25.2%). Their share of total petrol and diesel sales also increased to 4.8%.
More electricity and natural gas, less extra-light heating oil consumed
Consumption of natural gas rose by 1.7% and that of electricity by 1.4%. In contrast, consumption of extra-light heating oil fell by 4.1% compared to the previous year. These three energy sources account for approximately half of final energy consumption. Energy generation from industrial waste, the use of coal, petroleum coke and sales of medium and heavy heating oil decreased by 0.9%. The share of these four energy sources in total final energy consumption is very low (<2%).
Significant increase in consumption of renewable energies
Renewable energy sources are increasingly being used instead of fossil fuels for heating. For example, the use of ambient heat with heat pumps increased by 6.7%, as was the consumption of heat generated by district heating (+9,2%). The renewable portion of district heating rose again, reaching 43%. In contrast, the consumption of solar heat and energy wood fell slightly (-1.5%, and -0.8% respectively). The direct use of biogas fell by 0.9%. When taking into account the biogas fed into the natural gas grid (which is statistically accounted for under gas), there was a 2.7% increase in biogas consumption. The share of renewable energy sources in total final energy consumption has grown steadily, reaching 29.9% in 2024.
Swiss electricity balance for 2024
In 2024, Swiss electricity consumption increased by around 1.4% to 57.5 terawatt hours (TWh) compared to the previous year. Domestic electricity production (domestic generation) increased by around 11.4%, setting a new record of 81.1 TWh. Hydropower plants in particular reached a record production level of 48.3 TWh (+18.5% compared to previous year). In 2024, 59.6% of the electricity produced came from hydropower plants (run-of-river power plants 23.9%, storage power plants 35.7%), 28.4% came from nuclear power plants and 12.0% came from conventional thermal and renewable electricity production plants (thermal power plants 4.4%, wind power 0.2% and PV systems 7.4%).
Revisions
Since January 2024, the monthly production of thermal power plants, wind power and PV systems have been shown separately. These monthly values are initial estimates ('provisional values') and will be revised retrospectively as soon as the definitive electricity production figures for 2024 are available. The same will apply to the reported electricity balances from 2020 onwards. Solar power statistics will also be revised retrospectively. More information is provided in the ‘Factsheet: Revision of electricity balances for 2020–2024’.
Both overall energy and electricity statistics for 2024 will be available online from the second half of July 2025 and in printed form at the beginning of August. An initial summary overview of the energy consumption in 2024 and the definitive electricity balance for 2024 are available now (see attachment).