immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Author: immovestuser

  • Aventron and HIAG found solar company

    Aventron and HIAG found solar company

    Aventron and HIAG team up: Their new joint company, HIAG Solar AG, wants to expand the production of solar power on the roofs of HIAG properties in the long term. HIAG holds 49 percent of the joint venture, aventron 51 percent. Aventron CEO Antoine Millioud finds an “optimal connection”: “HIAG has very large roof areas in Switzerland and aventron has proven expertise in the planning, implementation and operation of high-performance solar systems.”

    As stated in a press release from HIAG, HIAG Solar AG wants to become a major solar power producer in Switzerland in the medium term and gradually expand its capacity. 65,000 square meters of space are currently available for photovoltaic modules. They should generate around 10 mega-watt peak power.

    The aim is to produce 10 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually. This corresponds to a CO2 equivalent saving of 4.2 million tons. The first four systems are already being planned. They should start operating this year and next.

  • Repower is investing in German wind farms with partners

    Repower is investing in German wind farms with partners

    At the beginning of the year, Repower expanded its portfolio of wind turbines in Germany, the Graubünden energy supplier informed in apress release . Specifically, Repower has taken over the Berlar wind farm in North Rhine-Westphalia. The plant with five turbines and a total output of 7.5 megawatts is expected to produce around 14.4 gigawatt hours of electricity annually. The notification does not provide any information about the purchase price.

    According to the announcement, the Graubünden energy supplier already operates a number of wind farms in Italy and Germany. The new acquisition is to be integrated into the German Repartner Wind GmbH. The company is wholly owned by Bündner Repartner Produktions AG , which is 51 percent majority owned by Repower. The trucks hold the largest minority share with 10.39 percent.

    Via Repartner Produktions AG, Repower wants to offer its shareholders “access to diversified, renewable electricity production”, according to the announcement. In addition to Repower and LKW, other Swiss energy companies are involved in Repartner Produktions AG, including Eniva, WWZ and the electricity works of the Canton of Zurich (EKZ).

    “This stake is an absolute gain for LKW,” said Gerald Marxer, CEO of LKW, in a separate announcement from LKW on the takeover of the wind farm. "On the one hand, we can increase our own production and, on the other hand, we are investing in renewable production technologies in accordance with our strategy."

  • Dietikon bietet Lichtkunst in der dunklen Jahreszeit

    Dietikon bietet Lichtkunst in der dunklen Jahreszeit

    Mit Lichtkunst der Kulturabstinenz trotzen lautet das Motto der abendlichen Dauerpräsentation „DietikON – Lichtkunst erleben“ vom 15. Januar bis 28. Februar im Stadtzentrum von Dietikon. Die Lichtkunst wird jeweils von 17 bis 22 Uhr das Zentrum erhellen. Das Spektrum der Arbeiten von zwölf Künstlerinnen und Künstlern aus der ganzen Schweiz reicht laut einer Ankündigung von poetischen Arbeiten bis hin zu kräftigen, plakativen Werken.

    „Das Projekt ‚DietikON – Lichtkunst erleben‘ soll Licht in die Stadt bringen und den vielen Menschen Trost und Zuversicht spenden, die sich in dieser dunklen Jahreszeit einsam oder in ihrer Freiheit eingeengt fühlen“, wird Stadtpräsident Roger Bachmann in einer Mitteilung zitiert. Schliesslich habe die Dietiker Bevölkerung im Dezember auf den Chlauseinzug und den Weihnachtsmarkt verzichten müssen. Auch sei die Weihnachtsbeleuchtung im Dietiker Stadtzentrum bescheidener ausgefallen als in den Vorjahren, weil infolge der Bauarbeiten viele Kandelaber fehlten. Deshalb habe ein Projektteam rund um die Standortförderung mit „DietikON“ eine Ausstellung organisiert, die Kunstschaffenden die Möglichkeit bietet, ihre Werke im öffentlichen Raum vorzustellen und so Licht und Trost in die dunkle Jahreszeit zu bringen.

    Der Grossteil der Objekte werde im Aussenraum stehen, heisst es auf der Kulturseite der Stadt Dietikon. Dort sind auch die Standorte auf einem Stadtplan eingezeichnet. Vereinzelt werden auch Schaufenster und Innenräume bespielt. Die wenigen im Innenraum aufgestellten Kunstwerke können, ganz corona-konform, durch Schaufenster betrachtet werden, die Räumlichkeiten müssen dafür nicht betreten werden, heist es dort.

    Gezeigt würden sowohl neu erarbeitete Werke, die einzig für die Stadt Dietikon geschaffen wurden und auch mit den örtlichen Gegebenheiten spielen, als auch bereits bestehende Werke, die durch den neuen Kontext der urbanen Stadtlandschaft eine andere Bedeutung erhalten, wird Cinzia Marti von der Standortförderung Dietikon zitiert.

  • Canton Schaffhausen increases stake in cantonal works

    Canton Schaffhausen increases stake in cantonal works

    The canton of Schaffhausen is buying a temporarily owned 10 percent stake from its power station, informs the canton administration in a message . The shares were sold by the canton to EKS three years ago when the canton took over a total of 25 percent of EKS from Axpo Holding . At that time, the canton had sold the remaining 15 percent to EKT Holding AG ( EKT ) from Thurgau.

    The canton paid Axpo a total of CHF 53 million in 2017 to acquire the block of shares. They were reapplied by reselling 10 percent to EKS at a price of 21.2 million francs and reselling 15 percent to EKT at a price of 31.8 million francs.

    In January of last year, the canton considered buying back the shares held by EKS as part of its ownership strategy, the announcement further explains. The EKS never intended to hold the shares itself in the long term, it says there. As the purchase price, the two partners have agreed the price of 21.2 million francs already paid for the transaction three years ago.

    After the transaction, the canton will hold an 85 percent stake in its cantonal works. The remaining 15 percent of the EKS should remain in the possession of EKT. The canton administration wrote that this was welcomed “particularly with a view to the synergy potential in the network area, both by the government council of the canton of Schaffhausen and the government council of the canton of Thurgau as well as the boards of directors of EKS and EKT”.

  • Aare power plant in Klingnau generates more electricity

    Aare power plant in Klingnau generates more electricity

    The Aare power plant in Klingnau produced a total of 202 million kilowatt hours of electricity last year, according to a media release . This corresponds roughly to the consumption of 45,000 four-person households. Production was higher than in the previous year due to slightly higher discharge volumes. At that time, the power plant had produced 186 million kilowatt hours of electricity.

    The Aare power plant in Klingnau is 60 percent owned by the Baden-based energy company Axpo . The remaining shares belong to AEW Energie AG , based in Aarau. The annual costs borne by the partners in 2020 totaled 9.7 million francs, which is slightly below the costs of the previous year (10 million francs). The production costs were around 4.78 cents per kilowatt hour.

    The Board of Directors of Aarekraftwerk Klingnau AG has approved the annual report and the accounts for the 2019/20 financial year, according to the information, at the beginning of the week for the attention of the General Meeting. This will take place on March 12th.

  • Cantonal court rejects objections to the wind farm

    Cantonal court rejects objections to the wind farm

    The Cantonal Court of Neuchâtel gives the green light to the Montagne de Buttes wind farm . It rejected all objections to the Verrivent SA project. The plaintiffs can now appeal.

    In an identical media release, wind farm operator Verrivent and its half owner, the energy supplier Groupe E Greenwatt , welcome the positive signal. "The decision shows how important the Montagne de Buttes project is for the future of an entire region," Verrivent Chairman of the Board of Directors Alain Sapin is quoted in the press release. The other half of the share capital of Verrivent SA is held by Services Industriels de Genève (SIG). It is planned to open up the share capital to the community in the long term.

    According to the notification, this judicial decision follows a decision of the Neuchâtel government council. In May 2019, he dealt with all objections to the public edition of the cantonal map. The wind farm is part of this plan. In addition, the canton decided on December 28, 2020 to reject all appeals filed in June 2016 against building permit applications in the three affected municipalities of Val-de-Travers, Les Verrières and La Côte-aux-Fées.

    The Montagne de Buttes wind farm with 19 wind turbines is to be built on this site. With an annual electricity production of around 100 million kilowatt hours, it should cover 10 percent of the current annual electricity consumption in the canton and save 180,000 tons of CO2 per year. The investments amount to 140 million francs.

  • Winners of the Watt d'Or energy award have been announced

    Winners of the Watt d'Or energy award have been announced

    The Federal Office of Energy awarded its Watt d'Or energy prize for the 14th time on January 7th. The award is intended to publicize exceptional achievements in the energy sector. But there is no prize money.

    The prize was awarded in four categories. In the Energy Technologies category, Adaptricity emerged as the winner. The spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich ( ETH ) is developing software that facilitates the planning and monitoring of distribution networks. In doing so, it helps to make the grids fit for the future of energy.

    In the renewable energies category, ABB and Romande Energie won a power plant in the Alps. On the Lac des Toules reservoir in Valais, Romande Energie operates a hydropower plant that also supplies solar power. The facility is unique for this height. ABB was able to successfully solve the technical challenges encountered during construction.

    In the energy-efficient mobility category, a joint project by the companies Hydrospider , Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility, H2 Energy and the H2 Mobility Switzerland association emerged as the winner. The partners want to set up the world's first commercial cycle for renewable hydrogen in Switzerland. This is intended to facilitate the use of hydrogen vehicles.

    There were two winners this year in the building and space category. On the one hand, the Umwelt Arena Schweiz from Spreitenbach AG and René Schmid Architekten AG have won. They convinced with a development in Männedorf ZH. Walter Schmid, energy pioneer and president of the Umwelt Arena Schweiz foundation, and his son, the architect René Schmid from René Schmid Architekten AG, rely on energy self-sufficiency in the association. Specifically, renewable electricity is produced with photovoltaic systems and wind energy systems. Half of this is used by the tenants. The rest is transported to a power-to-gas plant, converted into renewable gas and stored in the natural gas network for electricity and heat production in winter.

    On the other hand, St.Galler Mettiss AG and Beat Kegel won in this category. You have converted an old building into a passive house. In doing so, they relied on a new concept, which enabled the project to be implemented cheaply. The new tenant of the building is the University of St.Gallen .

  • Hypomarket ignores pandemic

    Hypomarket ignores pandemic

    During the first wave of the pandemic, the mortgage market reacted very nervously, writes Comparis in a statement on the current mortgage barometer of the online comparison service. The interest rates for ten-year fixed-rate mortgages rose from 0.98 to just under 1.20 percent towards the end of the first quarter of 2020, it said. The second wave of the pandemic, on the other hand, “has left the mortgage market cold so far,” says Comparis financial expert Frédéric Papp as quoted in the press release.

    According to the Comparis surveys, interest rates for fixed-rate mortgages with a ten-year term were between 1.04 and 1.07 percent in the last quarter of 2020. The interest rates for fixed-rate mortgages with a five- and two-year term remained constant over the quarter under review at 0.90 and 0.86 percent, respectively.

    Specifically negotiated mortgages usually had significantly lower interest rates than these target rates, explains Comparis in the press release. The company HypoPlus, which belongs to the Comparis Group, offers ten-year fixed-rate mortgages from an interest rate of 0.61 percent. In the coming months, "more dynamism can be expected in the mortgage market," predicts Papp. He assumes that competition among providers will intensify in favor of mortgage borrowers.

  • SUSI Partners acquires majority in Genera Group

    SUSI Partners acquires majority in Genera Group

    The Zug-based fund manager SUSI Partners has bought a majority stake in the Italian energy service provider Genera Group through its SUSI Energy Transition Fund. According to a press release from SUSI Partners, this is the first equity investment in the energy efficiency sector. It follows on from a longstanding business relationship between the two parties.

    Genera Holding is headquartered in Rome. It is primarily active in Italy, but is expanding increasingly, also outside of Europe. The participation of SUSI and the associated long-term partnership guarantee financing security for the further expansion of the "already considerable project pipeline".

    The SUSI Energy Transition Fund received capital commitments of 300 million euros in the first closing in July 2020. He invests in sustainable energy infrastructure to finance the energy transition.

  • AST Swiss Life opens two investment groups

    AST Swiss Life opens two investment groups

    Swiss pension funds can invest in high-quality Swiss properties from AST Swiss Life from February 1 to March 31. The investment foundation is planning to open up its two investment groups, Real Estate Switzerland and Commercial Real Estate Switzerland, worth around CHF 500 million. Payment will be made on May 5th.

    According to a press release , the capital is to be used to reduce the debt capital ratio, to purchase further properties, to implement new construction projects and for ongoing investments in the portfolio.

    The focus of the Real Estate Switzerland investment group is on residential properties in Swiss cities and agglomerations. The Swiss Commercial Real Estate investment group invests in commercial properties with stable returns and stable values in central locations. Both also hold shares in the Glatt shopping center in Wallisellen. Since their launch, both have had “an appealing performance” of 5.63 and 5.10 percent per year, respectively. In addition, the occupancy rate of more than 97 percent is above average for both of them.

  • Construction plans in Zurich North Next step for densification in Neu-Oerlikon

    Construction plans in Zurich North Next step for densification in Neu-Oerlikon

    Zurich's plans for Neu-Oerlikon: This is how the space around the train station should be designed. Red are buildings with a height of 80 meters, orange are those with a height of 54 and yellow are those with a height of 45 meters. Image: Master plan 07/10/2018

    More apartments, more jobs, more shops, more culture. North of the Oerlikon train station, “an attractive, urban-planning center is to be created”, says structural engineering supervisor André Odermatt (SP). To this end, the city council approved a partial revision of the Neu-Oerlikon special building regulations from 1998.

    The new regulations are a "huge opportunity" for Oerlikon, says Odermatt. "We are improving the plans from the 1990s and bringing them to a close."

    The partial revision allows a clear consolidation. Two skyscrapers with heights of 80 and 54 meters are planned on Max-Frisch-Platz. A total of 400 to 500 new apartments are to be built between Binzmühlestrasse and Oerlikon train station. In around half of them, non-profit housing construction is possible, according to the Urban Development Office.

    ABB cedes city property

    The city developed the plans together with the three major landowners, the canton of Zurich and the companies ABB Immobilien AG and AXA Leben. The city can claim some of the profit generated by the rezoning.

    The city receives money from the canton and AXA Leben – how much is not yet public. She would like to use the amount to improve the infrastructures in the neighborhood. ABB Immobilien will provide the city with the property on which Hall 550 is located. "In this way we can secure the existence of Hall 550," says Odermatt. This makes an important contribution to the cultural offerings in Oerlikon. The city is also taking over the property south of it. There she is planning charitable apartments.

    The special building regulations guarantee that with Hall 550 and the former ABB brick building 87T, two buildings from the industrial past will remain. In addition, they should create a greener quarter. Max-Frisch-Platz and a pedestrian zone are being enlarged. Shops and restaurants on the ground floors should keep the streets busy.

    Next, the local council will discuss the new building regulations. They will come into force in mid-2022 at the earliest. Then the owners can start planning their properties.

  • Sphery co-founder speaks at GZA Live Talk

    Sphery co-founder speaks at GZA Live Talk

    The location marketing organization GZA regularly introduces personalities from the greater Zurich area in its Live Talk series. In the next episode on January 18, Anna Martin-Niedecken, co-founder and CEO of Sphery , will be a guest on the series. She will talk to Reto Sidler, head of communications at GZA.

    Sphery develops computer games in which players have to perform physical activities. The goal is to combine games with sports. The start-up's games are based on innovative training concepts. During her appearance at the GZA Live Talk, Martin-Niedecken will explain, among other things, how games can revolutionize the fitness and health industry. She will also talk about the greater Zurich area as a location for innovative start-ups in the gaming sector.

    Martin-Niedecken is a sports scientist and, in addition to her work at Sphery, is also a senior researcher at the Zurich University of the Arts . In September she was selected from a list by digitalswitzerland , “BILANZ”, “Handelszeitung” and “Le Temps” among the 100 most important people in Switzerland who are driving digitization in the country.

    Interested who want to follow the sequence Talk GZA live, online can register . Registered participants will also be able to ask questions during the event.

  • Battery project aims to make sea transport more sustainable

    Battery project aims to make sea transport more sustainable

    The Current Direct project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in maritime transport by up to 482,000 tons of CO2 equivalents annually, explains Blackstone Resources in a press release . The Zug-based battery expert is one of a total of 13 partners who launched the Energy as a Service project. The European Union supports Current Direct through its Horizon 2020 research program.

    Blackstone Resources is contributing lithium-ion battery cells produced using 3D printing to the project. According to the announcement, state-of-the-art materials are used in their production, which reduce the costs of production. In addition, the materials used can be recycled.

    Overall, Current Direct aims to halve the cost of battery-powered ship propulsion systems. The Energy as a Service model also relieves ship owners of their capital costs. Current Direct thus offers “energy companies, institutional investors and state actors a mechanism to participate in the green transformation of the European merchant and passenger fleet,” writes the Zug-based battery expert.

  • Implenia and Hochtief are building tunnels in Hamburg

    Implenia and Hochtief are building tunnels in Hamburg

    Implenia and the Hochtief construction group will jointly build the 2.2-kilometer-long Altona noise protection tunnel. According to a press release from Implenia, the project on the A7 motorway in Hamburg has an order value of around 580 million euros. Allotment gardens as well as green spaces and parks are to be created on the cover of this tunnel. In addition, the two neighboring districts of Othmarschen and Bahrenfeld will be connected to each other again.

    The work between the A7 junctions Othmarschen and Volkspark is expected to begin in April 2021 and be completed by 2028. Implenia will manage the project commercially in a joint venture with Hochtief. Hochtief is the technical lead. Implenia's share of the total order volume is 35 percent.

    As Christian Späth, Head of the Civil Engineering Division at Implenia, explains, his company was able to identify numerous optimization options in the bidding process that has been running since 2019. “Among other things, we brought forward parts of the implementation planning and gradually incorporated the results from more than 30 coordination dates into the calculation. In this way we were able to significantly minimize the project risks for everyone involved. "

  • NeoVac uses the app from eCarUp for charging stations

    NeoVac uses the app from eCarUp for charging stations

    NeoVac now uses the NeoVac my Charge app to bill the consumption-based costs for e-charging stations in apartment buildings and areas. According to a media release , the specialist for building and environmental technology based in Oberriet is reacting to the increasing demand for e-charging stations in buildings.

    The app was developed by eCarUp AG from Zug. The young company offers a comprehensive software solution for setting up charging infrastructure. Its backend enables billing, monitoring, load management and maintenance of e-charging stations.

    With its Switzerland-wide service network, NeoVac prepares the consumption-based energy and water bills for over 400,000 apartments every year. The Rheintaler company has set itself the goal of offering a solution for every billing-relevant measuring point in a building. "The number of new registrations of electric vehicles is increasing significantly and tenants are asking for more and more charging options," says Pascal Welti, Head of Energy Consulting at NeoVac. That's why his company has now launched an app for it.

    It enables drivers of electric cars to activate charging stations and pay for the electricity they use. In addition, the charging data is transferred directly to the NeoVac myEnergy app. There, users receive an overview of their personal consumption and a directly accessible energy cost bill.

    NeoVac also offers complete solutions for e-mobility infrastructure projects with a nationwide sales and service network. In addition, charging stations could "also be controlled depending on the PV system, battery storage or heat pump". This increases self-consumption and the profitability of photovoltaic systems.

  • Meyer Burger receives German funding

    Meyer Burger receives German funding

    Meyer Burger wants to produce heterojunction solar cells at the Bitterfeld-Wolfen site in Saxony-Anhalt, the technology group from Thun informs in a press release . A new facility is to be set up there for this purpose. Saxony-Anhalt and the Federal Republic of Germany support Meyer Burger's plans with grants of up to 22.5 million euros. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems had certified that Meyer Burger's technology had significant environmental benefits.

    "We are pleased about the environmental aid in a significant amount", CEO Gunter Erfurt is quoted in the message. "It proves that our heterojunction technology is not only more efficient, but also more environmentally friendly than conventional solar cell technologies."

    The company was able to receive the positive notifications about the donations as early as the end of 2020, the communication further explains. An annual production capacity of 1.4 gigawatts is stated there as a prerequisite for the payment. The expansion of capacities to the required 1.4 gigawatts is to be financed with borrowed capital and implemented as quickly as possible. Meyer Burger writes that the group is confident that it will be able to meet this requirement.

    Meyer Burger plans to produce 0.4 gigawatts of solar cells in Bitterfeld-Wolfen this year. They are processed into solar modules at the Freiberg site in Saxony.

  • RAD offers new building modules for cancer centers

    RAD offers new building modules for cancer centers

    The portfolio of RAD Technology Medical Systems will be expanded to include three different building configurations for radiation therapy with linear accelerators (Linacs for short) in 2021. According to a media release, this should enable hospitals and cancer centers to set up stations with the latest models for electron and photon irradiation in less than a month.

    The modular design and the patented granulate shielding system of the Florida and Lugano-based company made it possible to assemble the bunker within just a few days. The modules allowed a variety of building configurations, from a temporary additional bunker for radiation therapy to a complete and permanent facility for radiation therapy.

    "We are excited to add this new radiation therapy station to our portfolio, which perfectly installs the latest generation of Linacs on the market," said Kenneth Wright, Vice President of Sales and Business Development. "In 2021 we will use this new type of bunker and cancer center in Europe and the USA for the first time."

  • Corona gives visualization solutions a boost

    Corona gives visualization solutions a boost

    From 3D tours with and without robots to drone recordings and automated interior design, there are a variety of PropTech solutions that have become irreplaceable, especially in times of Corona. Get to know these tools and use them to optimize your sales, rental, management and construction processes! Click on the banner and register free of charge for the online seminar on January 7, 2021 at 9 a.m.

    https://proptechmarket.net/tpost/ogldb6kce1-reconnect-visualisierung-in-der-immobili

  • Edisun Power's largest solar system is on the grid

    Edisun Power's largest solar system is on the grid

    The Edisun Power Group's Modouro photovoltaic system was connected to the electricity grid last week. According to a press release, this so far largest system of the solar power producer in the north-east of Portugal will produce around 80 million kilowatt hours of energy annually on an area of over 65 hectares. This corresponds to the annual requirement of around 20,000 people.

    Mogadouro is Edisun Power's first so-called merchant system: it was built without government subsidies or guarantees. The electricity produced is sold on the market. In order to secure the income in the first few years, a power purchase agreement with fixed-price purchase obligations was agreed with a Portuguese electricity trader.

    With the network connection, the group has reached “a major milestone”, the message continues. Thus, she is on track with regard to the growth strategy announced in 2019. She is also pushing the development of four other Portuguese projects with a total capacity of 150 megawatts “at full speed”.

  • Canton Uri provides 3 million energy-saving renovations

    Canton Uri provides 3 million energy-saving renovations

    The canton of Uri has adopted its Energy Uri 2021 funding program. In the coming year he wants to make a total of 3.1 million francs available for energy-efficient renovations. This means that the funds available are roughly as high as in the current record year 2020.

    The focus of the support program is the renovation of building envelopes, as the canton explains in a press release. These make a major contribution to ensuring that the federal and cantonal energy and climate targets can be achieved. With a subsidy rate of 60 francs per square meter, a high incentive will continue to be set for the renovation of the building envelope, it is said. The canton also offers advice in this area. In addition to the non-binding initial consultation at the Uri Energy Office, more detailed advice is now being launched.

    In addition to the renovation of buildings, the program also supports the replacement of old oil heating systems or solar energy.

  • Empa steel adhesives last 50 years

    Empa steel adhesives last 50 years

    In the large test laboratory of the Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt ( Empa ) in Dübendorf, a test has been running for 50 years to examine the long-term behavior of bonded steel reinforcement on a concrete beam. In this long-term test, which is unique worldwide, according to the media release , several reinforced concrete girders were reinforced with steel lamellas glued to the underside. One of the girders, which has been subjected to 87 percent of its predetermined breaking value for 50 years, has so far held out without any problems.

    “After 50 years below 87 percent of the average breaking load, the epoxy resin bond shows no weaknesses. This means that bonded steel lamellar reinforcements have passed the long-term test, ”says engineer Christoph Czaderski, who has overseen the test over the past few years.

    According to the announcement, the carrier is one of originally six identical specimens, all of which were subjected to different tests. The five other reinforced beams fell victim to fairly successful static fracture and dynamic fatigue tests that exceeded their load limits. The aim of the tests was to find out how well epoxy resin works as an adhesive for attaching a steel lamella to a concrete beam. According to Czaderski, the long-term test shows "practically no shifts" in the adhesive joint after 50 years.

    What was new territory at the beginning of the test is now state of the art. The process is important because it allows older buildings to be reliably reinforced instead of being torn down and replaced by new buildings.

    Empa's “Engineering Structures” department has been developing and researching new, simple and inexpensive reinforcement methods with modern materials such as epoxy resins, carbon fiber-reinforced plastics and shape memory alloys for many years.

  • Canton Uri increases stake in EWA-energieUri

    Canton Uri increases stake in EWA-energieUri

    As part of its energy strategy, the canton of Uri is aiming for a long-term majority stake in EWA-energieUri , inform the canton, EWA-energieUri and Centralschweizische Kraftwerke AG ( CWK ) in a joint message . In the coming years, the canton's participation in the energy and water supplier is to be expanded from the current 29 to 40 percent. To this end, the canton of Uri wants to take over a stake from CKW.

    A corresponding agreement has already been signed by the three partners, the message goes on to say. It regulates the acquisition of further shares by the canton in the course of awarding water rights concessions.

    Specifically, the canton of Uri is initially to receive a further 5 percent of the shares in EWA-energieUri when the Lucendro shares in Uri are awarded. The license is due to be renewed in 2024. The canton of Uri will transfer its shares in the Lucendro power plant to EWA-energieUri and in return will receive shares in the Uri energy supplier. The allocation of the shares from the Ritom, Wassen and Amsteg power plants to EWA-energieUri is intended to bring in a further 6 percent of the Uri energy supplier for the canton. The shares are assigned to the canton by CWK.

  • BKW strengthens building technology with takeovers

    BKW strengthens building technology with takeovers

    BKW Building Solutions, the building services division of BKW leads energy efficiency measures in buildings by. In order to strengthen this area, BKW has now expanded its network of installation companies and taken over two companies from the cantons of Valais and Zurich, the energy company informed in a press release .

    One of these is Elektro Nikolai GmbH . The company based in St.Niklaus, Valais, offers electrical installations in Mattertal and Zermatt. Under the umbrella of BKW, Elektro Nikolai is to work closely with Werner Electro AG, which has been part of BKW since 2018. "The addition of Elektro Nikolai GmbH strengthens the presence and positioning of BKW Building Solutions in Upper Valais and shows the region's great potential for the future," said Stefan Luggen from Werner Electro AG in the press release.

    On the other hand, Gloor Planzer AG will be included in the building technology division of BKW. The company from Männedorf specializes in the installation of air conditioning, refrigeration and ventilation systems, writes BKW. The previous owners Roland and Sandra Gloor will continue to manage the business of Gloor Planzer AG under the umbrella of BKW.

  • Methanology relies on crowd financing

    Methanology relies on crowd financing

    Methanology has developed a process with which methanol can be produced from water, CO2 and renewable electricity, explains Methanology in a press release. With the patented willpower energy technology, excess energy from renewable sources can be stored in the form of methanol. Alcohol, which is toxic to humans, is suitable as fuel for machines or as a substitute for heating oil. The young company from Neuhausen am Rheinfall wants to contribute to the energy transition with its technology.

    A prototype of the willpower energy reactor developed by Methanology can be found as a single system in most basement rooms, the start-up writes in the press release. Its modular and scalable design also enables the production of larger quantities of methanol, such as would be necessary for the operation of a ship, for example. Methanology aims to bring its technology to market maturity within three years. For the appropriate development of the prototypes, the young company now has a campaign for swarm financing launched.

  • Basel processes chemically contaminated building materials

    Basel processes chemically contaminated building materials

    Building materials from the Basel region should in future be processed and recycled in the local building material cycle. Baustoff Recycling Nordwestschweiz AG, a joint venture between Holcim Kies und Beton AG and Antag Recycling AG , founded in August 2020, wants to build a processing plant in the Birsfelden state mine. The former gravel pit is easily accessible by rail, road and the Rhine and is located next to the tunnel portal for the planned Rhine tunnel on the Basel eastern bypass.

    The plant in Birsfelden should also be able to process excavated material with the highest chemical pollution level. The processed gravel is then to be further processed in the neighboring concrete plant of Holcim Kies und Beton AG. A total of two thirds of the material should flow back into the building material cycle.

    The canton of Basel-Stadt surrenders part of its state mine under construction law for the plant, he writes in a message .

  • The federal government speaks 460 million francs for research institutions

    The federal government speaks 460 million francs for research institutions

    Economy Minister Guy Parmelin has set the funding contributions for research institutions of national importance for the period from 2021 to 2024, informed the Department of Economics, Education and Research ( EAER ) in a statement . 31 research institutions located in different departments are to receive a total of 460 million francs. The institutions funded under the Federal Law on the Promotion of Research and Innovation (FIFG) supplement research at universities and in the ETH domain with their work.

    The funds from the FIFG are available to research infrastructures, research institutions and technology competence centers. In the funding period from 2021 to 2024, 14 research infrastructures are to be supported with a total of 140 million francs. A further CHF 70 million will be distributed to a total of ten research institutions active in highly specialized areas. Seven technology competence centers are to receive a total of 190 million francs.

    The other funds are intended for the financing of special measures, explains the EAER in the communication. In particular, the national funding initiative for personalized medicine is mentioned here. She should receive around 40 million francs.

  • ABB is building off-grid charging stations with AFC

    ABB is building off-grid charging stations with AFC

    ABB and AFC Energy have agreed on a cooperation to bring hydrogen-powered charging of electric vehicles to the global market, according to a media release from AFC, based in Carnleigh, southeast of London. The cooperation with "the world leader in electrification technologies" ABB, so the announcement, found a global market of at least 140 billion dollars by 2030 for the charging of electric vehicles.

    Both companies want to use the hydrogen fuel cell system developed and manufactured by AFC, which supplies clean electricity for on-grid and off-grid applications. Off-grid charging stations for e-vehicles are also possible with such fuel cells and deliver CO2-free electricity. The partners will jointly market the integrated product and jointly develop a communication strategy for branding and use. It should be ready for use in the UK, Europe, the United States and other countries in the second half of 2021, according to the press release.

    Frank Muehlon, head of global e-mobility infrastructure solutions business at ABB, is quoted as saying, “ABB is a leader in e-mobility solutions and is proud to have played a key role in promoting e-vehicles around the world. The partnership with AFC Energy enables us to push the boundaries of e-mobility, especially with regard to off-grid applications, and thus enable a much greater range of e-mobility based on clean energy. ”Adam Bond, CEO of AFC Energy: "Today marks a historic milestone in the commercialization of our proprietary hydrogen fuel cell, as we begin a long-term collaboration with ABB." ABB offers strong and credible access to important customer channels in Europe and overseas.

    According to the announcement, the partnership will focus on the joint use of integrated high-performance EV charging systems in ABB's key markets. These are private users such as logistics companies and urban transport. The systems could also be used to supply power to ships and vertical take-off and landing vehicles (VTOL) because they are not connected to the grid.

  • Demand for condominiums is stronger than before Corona

    Demand for condominiums is stronger than before Corona

    According to a report on the Online Home Market Analysis, the demand for condominiums declined slightly overall from the fourth quarter of 2019 to the end of the third quarter of 2020 in the reporting year, but saw a strong surge in demand in the last quarter. In the analysis carried out by the Swiss Real Estate Institute of the Zurich School of Economics ( HWZ ) and the Swiss Association of the Real Estate Industry ( SVIT ) in collaboration with the digital real estate company homegate.ch , this is based on the shorter advertising period for condominiums offered on the Internet.

    During the entire reporting year, a condominium in Switzerland had to be advertised on an online platform for an average of 86 days. It was 60 days before the Corona crisis. In the third quarter of 2020, however, the advertising time fell to the record low of 52 days, despite an 8 percent increase in the number of advertisements. Condominiums are therefore currently more in demand than ever, the analysis found.

    Supply and demand were analyzed based on the advertisements on the seven major Swiss real estate marketplaces between October 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020 compared to the previous period. In the reporting period from October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020, around 91,387 condominiums were offered for sale on the Internet across Switzerland, which corresponds to an increase of 19 percent compared to the previous period.

    Professor Peter Ilg, head of the Swiss Real Estate Institute at HWZ, attributes the growth in demand mainly to two factors: “On the one hand, the boom in demand in the third quarter is due to the deferred demand from the previous quarters, but on the other hand it is also due to a change in behavior: More beautiful living is has become even more important to many Swiss after the lockdown, ”Ilg is quoted as saying.

    Jens Paul Berndt, CEO of Homegate AG, is quoted as saying: “We have also noticed a sharp increase in visits and contact inquiries. This is a sign that real estate is a popular investment property even in times of crisis. "

  • Basel Area launches its own podcast

    Basel Area launches its own podcast

    Basel Area Business & Innovation has a new podcast . From now on, the location promotion will present interesting personalities and their view of the location. In the first episode , Hans-Florian Zeilhofer starts.

    The specialist with the titles of Prof. Dr. med. Dr. med. dent. Dr. hc has lived and worked in Basel for 18 years. The Upper Bavarian works as a professor at the University of Basel , as chief physician at the specialist clinic for oral and maxillofacial surgery at the University Hospital Basel and as a senior consultant at the Cantonal Hospital in Aarau . At the same time, he initiated many high-tech research projects and founded various start-ups.

    Among other things, he is one of the founders of the Basel start-up AOT . It created a laser bone cutting robot called Carlo. In this 30-minute podcast, he explains the role played by a leg disk that Zeilhofer bought from a butcher. What he particularly appreciates about the Basel Area is the short distances, the proximity to the border and the dynamic ecosystem: "One of the main advantages of the Basel Area is that all major companies in the life sciences and medtech sectors are on site."

    With this podcast and its interview guests, the makers of the Basel Area want to provide a platform. Their discussions should address what distinguishes the business and innovation location, which innovations could cause a sensation and, for example, whether researchers can be good CEOs. It is available in German and English and can be subscribed to from the popular providers Spotify, Deezer, Apple Podcast and Google Play.

  • Investors from Glarus develop the Kartoni district

    Investors from Glarus develop the Kartoni district

    As early as 2013, the municipality of Glarus declared the Kartoni-Areal and Untere Allmeind areas in Glarus to be key development areas as part of their structure planning, the project company Kartoni Quartier AG informed in a message. A mixed living and working area with private, semi-private and public open spaces is to be created here. A footbridge for pedestrians and bicycles across the Linth will connect the quarter directly to the train station and the center of Glarus.

    The project management team at Sutter Projects, in cooperation with the municipality of Glarus, has now been able to win two local investors for the implementation of the project. One of these is the Glarus Pension Fund . It is described in the communication as a guarantor for “a sustainable and far-sighted project that does not allow real estate speculation”.

    On the other hand, Sutter and the community were able to get Trümpi Immobilien AG enthusiastic about the project. The Glarus real estate company is "a local partner who understands project development and construction from the ground up," the press release said.

    Together with Robert Sutter's Immolmpuls AG, the investors have now founded the Kartoni Quartier AG project company. She will take over the implementation of the construction plans on the Kartoni site. According to the announcement, Kartoni Quartier AG has already acquired all the properties in the area from the previous owners.