Insight into Swiss energy management and renewable energies for the Slovenian Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy

Article, 17.07.2024

At the end of May, SECO organized a study visit to Bern and Western Switzerland for Slovenian experts in the area of environment, energy and climate. Thanks to exchanges with the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, the canton of Vaud, and the municipality of Saint-Prex (VD), the delegation gained important insights into local energy networks, their digitalization, and new energy planning tools at all administrative levels. The visit to Agroscope and the Solberry berry farm also provided an opportunity to learn about existing Swiss agri-photovoltaic systems in a scientific and agricultural context and to establish important contacts for future cooperation.

The Slovenian delegation and SECO representatives listen to explanations on the agri-photovoltaic system on Solberry farm by its owner Barbara Schwab Züger.
The Slovenian delegation and SECO representatives at the agri-photovoltaic installation on the Solberry berry farm. © SECO

The study tour took place as part of the implementation of the second Swiss contribution to selected EU member states. Switzerland is supporting projects in Slovenia with CHF 16 million to increase energy efficiency and promote renewable energies. With this support and Switzerland's know-how, a national digital platform for optimizing energy planning as well as pilot projects for expanding solar energy on agricultural land (so-called agri-photovoltaic) are to be established. The tour's objective was to provide inspiration and insights for the concrete development of these projects.

Interviews about the study tour

Agri-photovoltaic

© SECO

Energy Management and Government

© SECO

Energy Planning Tools

© SECO

The second Swiss contribution – an investment in Europe’s security, stability and prosperity

SECO and the SDC are working together on projects funded by the Confederation's cohesion credit of CHF 1.102 billion, to be implemented by 2029. The contribution to 13 EU member states is an investment in Europe's security, stability and prosperity. It is intended to strengthen cohesion while reducing economic and social inequalities. Thanks to this contribution, Switzerland is strengthening and deepening its bilateral relations with these countries and with the EU as a whole.