10 Statements on Flexibility and Sector Coupling
PATHFNDR Synthesis report | September 2026
A synthesis report by more than 30 researchers from eight institutions examines how flexibility and sector coupling can support Switzerland’s transition to a net-zero energy system. The study identifies direct electrification of heating and transport as the central decarbonisation strategy and highlights hydropower, cross-border electricity trading, electric vehicles, and heat pumps as key sources of flexibility. It distils the PATHFNDR consortium’s findings into ten key statements covering sector coupling, energy-system flexibility, and the market, regulatory, and social conditions needed to unlock it.
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash
Scenario dimensions
Climate policy
2050 net-zero GHG emissions target excluding aviation
Energy market integration
Access to international energy markets
Flexibility
Availability of the flexibility of heat pumps and electric vehicles
Grid expansion
Expansion of the Swiss domestic transmission grid (excluding cross-border connections)
Scenario overview
Results
Explore the key findings of the Synthesis Report through interactive visualisations in the CROSS result explorer.
Project information
Authors
This white paper was developed by 8 institutions working in the PATHFNDR project
Project coordination
This synthesis report was edited by the Energy Science Center (ESC), ETH Zurich, which supports interdisciplinary energy research and collaboration across academia, industry, and policymakers.
Contact
Dr. Christian Schaffner
Executive Director, Energy Science Center (ESC), ETH Zurich
schaffner@esc.ethz.ch