Reflex: Switzerland without Nuclear Energy

Switzerland will have abolished every nuclear power station by 2034: an emotional decision that was made in the wake of the Fukushima accident. Yes, end nuclear power... but how?

Hans-Björn Püttgen, the director of EPFL Energy Center, gives his analysis of the obstacles to overcome in a long interview, and warns us that the biggest challenges will come in 2020. Switzerland has unique skills in solar energy but needs to intensify its efforts, explains David Stickelberger, Swissolar director. And Switzerland has a card up its sleeve—hydropower; using turbine pumps to store water in high-elevation dams could turn the alpine country into Europe’s “battery.”

Experts warn that building gas power stations might be unavoidable, contradicting our engagement to reduce CO2 emissions. Should we reduce our energy consumption according the proposal made by the "2000 watts society" project? Are we ready to lower the thermostat in the office and wear pullovers at work? Japan, a country that has lowered its energy consumption by 20% since Fukushima, shows us that energy austerity is possible.

Hundreds of billions of Euros are being invested in Europe in order to renovate the electricity grid; for it has become necessary to transport renewable energy from the south (solar) and from along the coasts (wind) across the entire continent. Our investigation into the price of nuclear energy shows that the atom, often praised as inexpensive, is actually too financially risky for today’s liberal electricity markets.

This edition of Reflex also explores the word of a hacker specialized in internet investigations, exposes the secrets of noncoding DNA, presents the science behind football, and explains how patients are taking control using social networks.

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