In 1954, Chapin, Fuller and Pearson created the first practically applicable solar cell. Since then, the invention of solar panels has spread rapidly around the world.

In Switzerland, a fundamental transformation of the energy system is planned. Nuclear power plants will be shut down by 2050 and gasoline cars will be replaced by electric vehicles. Consequently, the demand for electricity will increase significantly. Therefore, the federal government plans to increase Switzerland’s nationwide solar power production tenfold, to 34 terawatt hours per year.

At the end of 2022, the installed PV capacity in the city of St.Gallen was approximately 25 MWp, which corresponds to an increase of 4.3 MWp compared to 2021. This results in an annual production of 25’000 MWh, which can supply approximately 6’500 households with solar power.

Source: Starowicz et al. (2023), Paganini et al. (08.09.2022), Umwelt & Energie Stadt St.Gallen (2022), St.Galler Stadtwerke (2022)