Energy security as an export opportunity

Electricity has become a geopolitical resource. The experiences of recent years have led governments worldwide to treat energy infrastructure as a strategic priority, not just a line item in the budget. The IEA estimates that current global grid investments are running at around $400 billion per year; BloombergNEF estimates that they will rise to $470–483 billion in 2025, a record. By 2030, the IEA says, these investments must rise to around $600 billion per year to meet climate goals and ensure energy security at the same time.

This is not a short-term cyclical effect. It is a structural transformation of global energy infrastructure that will last at least a decade. And it opens export windows for Swiss technology providers that can deliver exactly what these markets need: reliability, precision, and long-term serviceability.

Why Now, Why Swiss Companies: Three forces are converging at the same time.

First, aging infrastructure. Around 40% of the world's installed hydropower capacity is more than 40 years old. The IEA estimates that rehabilitation investments alone will need to reach $127 billion by 2030, with the actual need almost three times that amount, around $300 billion.

Second, the energy transition is creating new grid problems. According to EirGrid's annual reports, Ireland curtailed around 11% of its wind energy in 2023, and 14% in 2024, because the grid could not absorb the output, and the trend is upward. This is a structural problem for any country that is scaling up renewables faster than its grid infrastructure can keep pace. Battery storage, smart grid management, and load management are no longer future technologies; they are urgent investment needs.

Third, cybersecurity for operational technology. The EU's NIS2 directive, fully in force since October 2024, requires all critical energy infrastructure operators in Europe to demonstrate OT security. Market estimates for global OT security vary widely in methodology, ranging from $30 to over $80 billion by the early to mid-2030s, but all show double-digit annual growth.

Four Technology Fields, Four Access Points

Grid Infrastructure and HVDC

High-voltage direct current transmission is the core technology for the energy transition: it connects offshore wind farms to the mainland, bridges intercontinental distances, and stabilizes grids when conventional power plants fail. A Zurich-based HVDC provider with over $30 billion in orders on hand illustrates the visibility in this segment: winning mandates today means having them in the books for years.

For specialized Swiss SMEs in the MEM sector, the opportunity lies in the supply chain: precision components, connection technology, measuring instruments, and service for equipment that must be maintained for decades.

Hydropower Modernization

A turbine manufacturer in western Switzerland operates its own hydraulic test lab for model testing, a differentiating feature compared to most competitors. Modernizing an aging Pelton runner typically yields 4 to 6% efficiency gains and extends operating life by another 30 years.

Brazil is one of the most important target markets worldwide. According to various sources, hydropower accounted for 52 to 58% of Brazil's electricity in 2025, and a significant portion of the installed base was built in the 1970s and 1990s. As Brazil's electricity increasingly comes from wind and solar, the old hydropower plants are used as a flexibility buffer: according to Rodrigo Limp, vice president of Axia Energia, the Tucuruí plant alone had over 2,000 start-stop cycles in 2025, and the number is rising, accelerating wear and tear and creating a direct need for rehabilitation.

For smaller Swiss providers, the entry points are specific: digital controllers, cavitation-resistant coatings, condition monitoring via sensors, and predictive-maintenance platforms. The African Development Bank has mapped 87 plants on the continent with medium to high rehabilitation needs, representing investment volumes of around $6.8 billion. India plans to add about 51 gigawatts of pumped-storage capacity by 2032.

Smart Grids and OT Cybersecurity

Swiss manufacturers of energy-infrastructure measurement systems are among the international market leaders, as are providers of OT security solutions for critical infrastructure. The approach these providers take is compelling: read-only operation in the OT network, no interference with ongoing production systems, and full transparency for the operator.

Japan is a premium market for both areas. The electricity consumption of Japanese data centers is expected to rise from around 19 terawatt-hours (2024) to 57–66 terawatt-hours by 2034, a threefold increase, with hyperscaler investments of $28 billion. The Japanese government designated cybersecurity as a strategic investment area in November 2025, on par with semiconductors and quantum technology. From 2026, a uniform cybersecurity standard will apply to operators of critical infrastructure, with a legal obligation to implement zero-trust systems. Swiss neutrality and the Swiss-made trust profile are a serious selling point in the Japanese context.

Decentralized Solutions and Microgrids

Swiss manufacturers of off-grid inverters and charge controllers export up to 80% of their revenue to more than 60 countries, in segments that are largely independent of economic cycles: telecommunications infrastructure, oil and gas sites, and medical care. The global microgrid market is growing at around 17% per year, toward more than $57 billion by 2034, with the highest demand in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asian island groups. The World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the ADB have jointly pledged more than $18 billion for energy-access programs.

Reliability as a Differentiator

In energy projects with operating horizons of 20 to 40 years, the lowest-cost provider is not necessarily the best choice. A turbine failure costs more than the price difference between original equipment manufacturers. This is the market context in which the Swiss quality profile carries real commercial weight.

SERV, the Swiss Export Risk Insurance, covers political risks for Swiss exporters in countries where commercial insurance is unavailable. REPIC, the funding instrument of SECO and FOEN, co-finances clean energy projects in developing and transition countries.

How S-GE Can Help

S-GE supports Swiss energy technology exporters in accessing international markets: from identifying specific tenders and project pipelines to connecting with development banks and local partners, and from preparing trade fair appearances to organizing fact-finding missions in target markets.