POWER
Swiss hydropower reserves rose by 4.1 percentage points last week to 23.7% of capacity as of 20 May, narrowing the deficit to the five-year average to the lowest in three weeks, BFE data showed.
- Hydro stocks narrowed the deficit to the five-year average to 3.9 percentage points, compared with 5.1 points a week earlier.
- Reserves moved to a surplus to the long-term average – since 1997 – of 0.1 points, compared with a deficit of 1.1 points the week earlier.
- Hydropower generation in Switzerland declined last week by 233MW on the week to 2.52GW. Run of river output edged up by 56MW to 332MW last week amid snowmelts.
- Snowpack at the L'Ecreuleuse measuring station in canton Valais – where most Swiss hydropower reserves are stored - was at 334cm as of 22 May, down from 352cm a week earlier.
- Nuclear generation last week edged down by 109MW to 1.24GW.
- Several Swiss nuclear facilities are currently undergoing seasonal maintenance.
- Planned maintenance at Axpo’s 365MW Beznau reactor has been extended by three days until 15 June, EEX remit data showed on Wednesday.
- Works at Beznau 2, affecting 190MW, are scheduled to conclude on 25 May.
- Axpo’s 1.233GW Leibstadt reactor is undergoing maintenance until 31 May.
- Planned works at Alpiq’s 1.02GW Goesgen nuclear facility are scheduled to start on 24 May. Maintenance is expected to end on 22 June.
- The latest weather forecasts for Sion – canton Valais – suggested heavy precipitation for this week, likely boosting inflows into reserves.
- The Swiss June power base-load contract closed yesterday at €67/MWh, the highest since 18 April.
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