This study was mandated by Gaznat and is an associated case study to the SWEET project "Sustainable and Resilient Energy for Switzerland" (SURE). It analyses the role of large-scale gas storage in the Swiss energy system taking into consideration the Swiss energy strategy and climate goals as well as the security of supply objectives within a quantitative model-based scenario framework. Related to largescale gas storages, the study particularly focuses on potentially new gas storage options for Switzerland,
such as Lined Rock Cavern – LRC storages and Liquefied Natural Gas – LNG storages. In order to quantify long-term developments of the energy system of Switzerland and the role of gas storages specifically, the well-established Swiss TIMES Energy systems Model has been employed and
complemented with a dedicated dynamic gas flow model of the Swiss gas grid using the FlexECO modelling framework.

The analytical results for the analysed scenarios show that gaseous fuels (fossil, biogenic, synthetic gases as well as hydrogen) have a role to play in the future Swiss energy system where the ambitions to mitigate climate change impact the level of gas consumption and the variety of gaseous fuels that can contribute to a cost-optimal energy supply structure. The more ambitious the climate targets are, the higher the need for domestic production of biogas, biomethane and hydrogen. Under the objective
of carbon neutrality by 2050, these domestically produced fuels together with the imports of gaseous hydrocarbon fuels could reach a consumption level in 2050 which is slightly below today's gas consumption. Under less ambitious domestic climate action, gas consumption may increase, especially if gas power plants contribute to compensate for the phase out of nuclear power plants. [...]