Yves Zumwald, CEO Swissgrid
Yves Zumwald, CEO of Swissgrid, highlighted the crucial role of the transmission grid in enabling a secure and successful energy transition in his speech at the EIP Summit 2026. He explained why maintaining the balance between electricity generation, consumption and cross-border energy flows is essential to ensuring the stability of the power system.
Zumwald described how the rapid expansion of solar power, battery storage and growing electricity demand from data centres is reshaping the energy landscape. To successfully integrate these developments, he emphasized the need for greater flexibility, digitalization, storage capacity and coordinated market frameworks. Only through these measures, he argued, can grid stability be maintained as the energy system becomes increasingly decentralized and complex.
A central theme of his speech was the importance of European cooperation. Drawing on the long history of grid integration across the continent, Zumwald stressed that cross-border collaboration, efficient electricity markets and forward-looking infrastructure planning are essential for a secure energy future.Stability does not happen by itself, he said. It is the result of continuous investment, close coordination and infrastructure designed to serve generations to come.