The European Power Exchange EPEX SPOT has inaugurated its subsidiary in Bern, Switzerland, on 14 May 2014. Swiss market participants, partners and stakeholders participated in the opening. The office is based in the Marktgasse at the historical centre of Bern and is headed by Davide Orifici. EPEX SPOT intends to contribute more actively to the debate on the Swiss energy transition, and continues to answer the Swiss market needs in a sustainable way.
“Our Bern subsidiary will allow us to continue to serve the interests of the Swiss customers and efficiently accompany the long term voluntary energy transition designed for 2050 by the Confederation”, says Jean-François Conil-Lacoste, Chairman of the Management Board of EPEX SPOT.
The Swiss Day-Ahead market has been operated by EPEX SPOT since the creation of the company back in 2009. In June 2013, EPEX SPOT launched the Swiss Intraday market. It has been connected to the Franco-German-Austrian Intraday market from its beginning. 15-minute contracts in strong interaction with the German market allow for a maximum of flexibility especially regarding RES production.
The creation of the Swiss Power Exchange is vital for the implementation of Market Coupling on Swiss borders. It will allow Switzerland to integrate into the EU Internal Energy Market which will lead to gains in social welfare in all coupled countries.
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The EPEX SPOT Schweiz AG, located in Bern, is a 100% subsidiary of the European Power Exchange EPEX SPOT SE. 19.2 TWh were traded on the Swiss market in 2013, representing one third of the Swiss power consumption.
The European Power Exchange EPEX SPOT SE operates the power spot markets for France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland (Day-Ahead and Intraday). Together these countries account for more than one third of the European power consumption. EPEX SPOT is a European company (Societas Europaea) based in Paris with branches in Leipzig, Bern and Vienna. In 2013, 346 TWh were traded on EPEX SPOT’s markets.