immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Category: Energy

  • Insight into the climate strategy of the Canton of Lucerne

    Insight into the climate strategy of the Canton of Lucerne

    Climate change is a global challenge. The Canton of Lucerne also expects drier summers, more hot days, more heavy precipitation and winters with less snow in the future.

    Lucerne pursues a dual strategy
    In its climate policy, the Canton of Lucerne aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the canton to net zero by 2050, in line with the objectives of the federal government and the Paris Climate Agreement. Net zero means that although greenhouse gas emissions will continue to be produced in certain areas, they will be removed from the atmosphere to at least the same extent.

    Since the effects of climate change will continue to increase in the coming years – even with climate protection measures – the Canton of Lucerne intends to implement additional measures to adapt to climate change.

    The Lucerne cantonal government has set out this dual strategy and corresponding measures in its planning report “Climate and Energy Policy 2021 of the Canton of Lucerne”. in 2022, in its “Measures and Implementation Planning for Climate and Energy 2022-2026”, it showed specifically how which measures are to be implemented in the coming years.

    Measures from spatial development to education
    An overview of measures shows a total of 134 measures for climate protection and adaptation in various areas such as spatial development, buildings, mobility and transport, dealing with natural hazards, energy, waste disposal and recycling, water management, forestry, agriculture, health, industry and education.

    As concrete measures for climate protection, the Canton of Lucerne wants, for example, to adapt energy regulations for new buildings, promote environmentally friendly building materials, launch programmes for the efficient use of resources in agriculture or examine innovative approaches to waste avoidance in trade and industry.

    In order to adapt to climate change, the Canton of Lucerne is planning spatial planning measures for flood protection, raising the awareness of vulnerable population groups in the event of heat waves, promoting reforestation or legal foundations for climate-adapted settlement development.

    All measures are described in detail in the measures and implementation planning of the Canton of Lucerne.

  • First Electrosuisse e-mobile Charging Forum

    First Electrosuisse e-mobile Charging Forum

    Electromobility yes, but how to charge? Competent advice is crucial even before the purchase decision is made. When planning and implementing an appropriate charging infrastructure, questions from different areas arise. What is the appropriate charging infrastructure for home, business or on the road?

    The e-mobile professional association has perceived the industry’s need for a specialist conference in the field of charging infrastructure and launched a call for papers. Over 25 proposals were received and then voted on in a topic voting. The feedback from the community was clearly focused on the following 5 topics:

    – Bidirectional charging
    – Smart charging
    – Charging infrastructure in underground car parks
    – Energy supply 2050
    – Charging infrastructure 2050

    The moderator, Sarah Andrina Schütz, will guide the participants through the day, while renowned speakers will present solutions for concrete implementation and provide an outlook on the coming trends. In addition, well-known partners will organise an interesting accompanying exhibition. Numerous associations support the congress with the aim of establishing dialogue between the various professionals involved in the electromobility sector.

    At the e-mobile Charging Forum, current developments in the charging infrastructure sector will be discussed and an interactive exchange of knowledge and experience will be facilitated.

  • Milestone for the further development of CH energy policy

    Milestone for the further development of CH energy policy

    Particularly important decisions of the Commission meeting of 20-23.2.2023

    • A regulation for solar plants in the national interest: This will make it possible to build Alpine solar power plants even after the expiry of the urgent federal decree (“Solar Express”).
    • The obligation of operators of larger storage hydropower plants to participate in the energy reserve: Photovoltaics (PV) in combination with hydropower enables a secure power supply in winter, provided the reservoirs are not emptied prematurely for economic reasons.
    • The possibility of loans in case the resources of the grid surcharge fund are not sufficient for the intended promotion of renewable energy production: This can avoid a “stop-and-go”.
    • Data from smart metering systems are to be made available to end consumers in real time: This promotes the optimal coordination of electricity production (e.g. from PV systems) and consumption at the local level, which can reduce investments in electricity grids.
    • Storage facilities without end consumption are to be exempted from the grid fee for an unlimited period. And storage facilities with end consumption should also be able to benefit from a refund of the grid fee for the energy fed back into the grid from these storage facilities: This promotes the grid-serving use of stationary storage facilities as well as the bidirectional charging of electric vehicles.
    • The framework conditions for local electricity communities (LEG) have been significantly improved compared to the resolution of the Council of States: this is also a significant contribution to the intelligent use of the grids.
    • In rural areas, high costs for grid reinforcements often lead to PV projects being suspended. A cost pass-through is intended to provide relief here.
    • The parliamentary initiative by Swissolar President Jürg Grossen’s initiative to harmonise the taxation of the sale of solar electricity was unanimously approved. This is an essential contribution to clearing up the “patchwork” of framework conditions for solar plants.


    Detailed information at www.parlament.ch

  • The forgotten solar hot water systems

    The forgotten solar hot water systems

    In Switzerland, about 6% of all apartment buildings have a solar hot water system (solar thermal) in operation. These are used to heat hot water in order to reduce the consumption of oil and gas. Most of these systems were installed about 10 years ago, when photovoltaics were much more expensive. However, in recent years they have been forgotten. Many owners and administrators discover the installations only by chance through a view of the property on Google Maps, when they analyse the roof for photovoltaic suitability.

    On average, solar hot water systems have 20 years of operation ahead of them, during which they can generate CO2-free heat and also significantly reduce utility costs thanks to fossil energy savings. Because nobody knows about the existence of many installations, one in five is defective. This means valuable solar heat is being wasted and fossil fuel heating systems are having to step in instead.

    Several cantons have already recognised the problem and launched awareness campaigns to make owners, caretakers and administrators aware of the issue. The free solartest.ch platform has been created for this purpose in collaboration with Energie Schweiz and Swissolar. This allows users to check whether their system is running correctly by simply entering the temperature values they have read.

    To avoid having to read the temperature values every week, Energie Zukunft Schweiz has developed the LORALARM monitoring system, which can be retrofitted.

    As part of a project with a large Swiss insurance group, 65 existing solar hot water systems were monitored, of which a total of 15 systems were found to be out of order. Minor repairs enabled systems worth CHF 1.5 million to be put back into operation within a very short time.
    The good time to find out if your solar thermal system is running is on a sunny winter’s day. This ensures that the defect will be producing sun-warmed water again by the time of the productive spring days from the beginning of March, after any repairs have been carried out.

  • Together towards the sun

    Together towards the sun

    2021, Bearth & Deplazes Architects were able to accept this award for a multi-purpose building in Fläsch. This is the third time they have been awarded the prestigious prize, which is given for solar buildings that are convincing from an architectural point of view, take into account the careful use of resources and are designed in such a way that they generate more electrical energy than they use themselves

    The company has been dealing with the subject of energy for over 30 years. For them, it is part of designing and building, just like construction. Their buildings clearly reflect that architecture is more than aesthetics for them. That they are concerned with responsibility towards the place, society and the environment.

    They have proven this in Fläsch. The existing multi-purpose building from the 1970s was converted and extended to include a kindergarten and a community hall. The additional rooms nestle up against the existing building to the north and east and are integrated under the extended roof area. Due to seismic safety requirements, the roof had to be replaced, but its original silhouette and ridge point were retained. The orientation of the roof allowed the use of a large-scale PV system, for which the company Reech was commissioned with the planning and technical construction management. In addition to visual aspects, the company’s main focus was on meeting technical requirements. The “Sunskin Roof” in-roof system from Eternit, developed in Switzerland and manufactured in Austria, not only convinced the PV specialists with its energy efficiency, performance and quality. “The resistant double-glass solar modules can be installed even at flat angles of inclination. In addition, they can be walked on, which brings great advantages when maintaining the system,” explains Tamás Szacsvay, Head of Technology & Engineering and Partner at Reech. He also appreciates the good technical support from Eternit and the comprehensive documentation from which all connection details can be taken directly.

    The installation of the handy modules is also quick and easy, as the flexible installation allows work to be carried out from different sides at the same time

    Eternit (Schweiz) AG works closely with architects and technicians when developing new products. This pays off. In this way, constructive, functional and aesthetic aspects flow into the planning process at an early stage. Since 2010, the company has been applying its know-how specifically to the development of frameless photovoltaic systems that are fully integrated both on the roof and on the façade and replace the conventional building envelope. Thanks to well-designed detailed solutions, they also meet the high aesthetic requirements of architects

    The large-scale Eternit solar roof in Fläsch supplies 179,700 kWh/a, 175% more energy than is required for the building’s own needs. The surplus energy of 114,200 kWh/a is used by the neighbouring clinic, which can cover a third of its energy needs with it.
    Thus, through their clever design, the architects have succeeded in strengthening the local ensemble of school building, clinic and multi-purpose building, while integrating a contemporary solution for energy generation and use that is convincing in terms of design and respects the special nature of this location

    “Of course we have to achieve the energy turnaround,” says Daniel Ladner, who, along with Valentin Bearth and Andrea Deplazes, is the third office partner and overall project manager for the construction in Fläsch. “But not at the expense of the townscape. That’s why the design with energy must always be demanded and coordinated with the operator.”

  • The first projects of the Dietiker Smart City project have been implemented

    The first projects of the Dietiker Smart City project have been implemented

    On the evening of September 27, the population of Dietic was informed on the church square about the implementation of the Smart City project developed by the city of Dietikon and the electricity company of the Canton of Zurich ( EKZ ). The inauguration of the first sub-projects took place.

    According to the press release , there is now a charging station for electric cars on Zelgliplatz, which is available while shopping, but can also be used by residents. Electric bikes can be charged in the basement of the two-storey bike house near the train station. A camera detects free parking spaces in the Hedinger car park. Public WiFi is available to the public at the market hall. There, an air measuring station records temperature, humidity and air pollutants such as fine dust or ozone. The station is supplemented by a network of other environmental sensors distributed across the city. In winter, measuring the ground temperature warns of possible black ice.

    "Only networking and the intelligent use of data leads to added value for the population and for the administration, as one strives for in a Smart City," Jörg Haller, Head of Smart City and Public Lighting at EKZ, is quoted as saying.

    The environmental data recorded at the measuring stations should be displayed transparently, for example on monitors in the town hall. "The city's extensive data is already used today for traffic and construction planning," Mayor Roger Bachmann is quoted as saying. "The prize money from the SFOE gave us another boost," continued Bachmann.

    The Smart City project won the main prize in the Smart City Innovation Challenge of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy ( SFOE ) at the beginning of 2021 and thus received funding of CHF 100,000.

  • Hilcona installs new solar power plant

    Hilcona installs new solar power plant

    The Hilcona Group has installed a photovoltaic system at its Landquart site. The international food producer invested CHF 920,000 in this. The almost 4,000 square meter solar power plant produces up to 830 megawatt hours of electricity per year, which according to a press release is sufficient for around 165 households.

    The head of quality management and sustainability, Oliver Bindel, is quoted as saying that the Hilcona catchment area already uses 100 percent hydropower. "Our electricity is already 100 percent renewable today." Hilcona wants to further expand its own electricity production and gradually reduce the proportion of purchased electricity.

    "Lighthouse projects such as the current one at the Hilcona site in Landquart show that Hilcona is not too big a project to have net zero CO2 emissions in the long term. It is important to us to make a positive contribution to achieving global climate goals.”

  • Ostermundigen installs smart thermostats in school

    Ostermundigen installs smart thermostats in school

    The council of the municipality of Ostermundigen recently voted in favor of the installation of 237 smart thermostats from the cleantech start-up Cleveron , based in Stettlen. According to a media release , they are intended to convert the radiators in the Dennigkofen school and reduce their heating energy consumption by up to 30 percent. The investment costs amount to 40,000 Swiss francs.

    These costs should have amortized after two to three years through the optimized energy consumption. Should the measure reduce the current energy consumption for heating by at least 8 percent, the municipality of Ostermundigen will consider equipping other school complexes and administration buildings with new thermostats.

    “With the pilot operation in the Dennigkofen school, we are testing how we can reduce energy consumption in our community-owned properties in the future. At the same time, the procurement is a contribution to minimizing the risk of energy shortages in the coming winter,” Maya Weber Hadorn, municipal councilor in Ostermundigen, is quoted as saying in the media release.

    Cleveron heating thermostats measure the temperature and humidity in rooms. They also take into account the current weather data and the outside temperature. A self-learning algorithm is designed to ensure optimal temperature regulation. All data can be displayed and evaluated via an app, and the thermostats can be controlled via it. Last fall, the municipality installed 220 Cleveron sensors in school buildings to improve air quality.

  • IWB and Kiwigrid cooperate for decentralized energy supply

    IWB and Kiwigrid cooperate for decentralized energy supply

    The Basel Industrial Works ( IWB ) and the German IT company Kiwigrid , which specializes in decentralized energy and e-mobility, are working together to set up energy communities. Both companies have jointly developed software for energy management and asset management, IWB and Kiwigrid inform in a joint statement . It is to be used for the first time on the Westfeld site in Basel. There, the housing cooperative is realizing a new quarter with around 500 cooperative apartments.

    IWB will equip the district with an integrated heating, cooling and power supply. The Basel energy supplier obtains the necessary energy management from Kiwigrid. Using the Energy-IoT platform of the Dresden-based company, the district’s electricity meters, photovoltaic systems, charging stations and heat pumps can be integrated into a network for self-consumption, intelligently controlled and managed.

    “Our goal is a completely renewable, climate-friendly energy supply,” says Markus Balmer, Head of Sales and member of the management board at IWB. The company wants to contribute to the development of sustainable living and working spaces. “As an expert in energy management systems and IoT for renewable energies, Kiwigrid has proven to be the ideal partner in the implementation of our ambitious goals,” explains Balmer.

    The energy community in Westfeld should not remain the only joint project between IWB and Kiwigrid. According to the announcement, the partners have already found interested parties for further mergers. hs

  • Bern has the most climate-friendly building stock

    Bern has the most climate-friendly building stock

    Navitas Consilium has developed an interactive tool to show the share of renewable or imported energy in the building stocks of each municipality in Switzerland, the Martigny-based energy and climate consultancy informs in a press release . The amount of greenhouse gases generated by the building stocks can also be called up using the tool. With its development, Navitas Consilium wants to help determine the need for decarbonization of building stocks for the implementation of the Swiss climate strategy.

    An interactive map can be used to show that the most densely populated areas of the country use a low proportion of renewable energy compared to rural areas. With a share of 28 percent, Lausanne is still the best of the ten major cities. For Switzerland as a whole, the values vary between 2 and 84 percent.

    At almost 40 percent, heating and hot water in buildings account for a very high proportion of total energy consumption. For the implementation of the climate strategy, Navitas Consilium therefore considers a reduction in energy consumption in combination with the use of low-emission renewable energies to be essential.

    The city of Bern is currently one step ahead when it comes to the climate-friendliness of its building stock. With 23 kilograms of CO2 equivalents per square meter per year, Bern has the lowest emissions of the ten largest cities in Switzerland. Zurich and Basel follow, each with 24 kilograms of CO2 equivalent per square meter. In general, cities with less than 10 percent energy from renewable sources have comparatively high emissions of greenhouse gases.

  • How data is changing our cities

    How data is changing our cities

    They know what we buy, who we meet and where we drive or walk. Airbnb, Amazon, DriveNow, Google Maps, Lieferando, Lime and Uber are just a small selection of platforms and services that collect data on mobility and purchasing behavior. With the help of this wealth of data, technology groups are redesigning urban spaces for the optimal use of their services. A phenomenon that can be described by the term platform urbanism. “Technology companies have immense knowledge about urban mobility. They use this know-how in contact with city administrations, for example to create new transport systems,” explains the art and architecture theorist Peter Mörtenböck. He knows: the architecture departments of Alphabet and Amazon are creating the data-supported districts of tomorrow.

    Peter Mörtenböck and his team wanted to know: How do data, the public and urban spaces change each other? Supported by the Austrian Science Fund FWF, the researchers conducted basic artistic research over a period of five years, held conferences, developed exhibitions, published two books and established collaborations. During this project period, more than 100 people were involved in research.

    International artistic research
     The process was international. Knowledge about video surveillance was collected in London. A trip to Tallinn provided insights into e-governance, another to Mumbai about environments that are only rudimentarily shaped by technology groups. The core team visited Silicon Valley several times. The researchers held discussions with architects and employees from Apple, Meta and Alphabet. “In particular, we looked at the campus architecture and the plans for expanding it with new residential areas. These are prototypes for future housing estates,” explains Mörtenböck. The role of patents was also presented. "The Steve Jobs Theater on the Apple campus and the design of the Amazon department stores are just a few examples of patented designs," explains the visual culture professor.

    Artistic research approaches, for example in the form of drawings and animations, helped the researchers to question their own assumptions on topics such as the public nature of data. Creative approaches also have other benefits. “One of our major concerns was to convey how each and every individual is involved in data production. Knowing how the environment is changing insidiously gives you an idea of what data is being collected and what it can do. Artistic research helps to find an interface with the public,” says Mörtenböck. For example, the project team members Lovro Koncar-Gamulin and Christian Frieß developed video installations and animations as visual translations of the research process. Discussions were held with interested parties in Carinthia, Styria and Vorarlberg. Debates were held with international researchers and experts at conferences in Vienna, London and Los Angeles.

  • New complete solution for the dynamization of private parking areas

    New complete solution for the dynamization of private parking areas

    The solution combines the tried-and-tested Scheidt & Bachmann hardware in a lean set-up consisting of a barrier, lane assistant and camera. Highly standardized and easy to install via Plug & Play. The license plate serves as an identification feature for those authorized to park.

    All parking processes are intuitively managed via the software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution – this is purely web-based and on any end device: no app, no tickets, no transponders, no plastic cards or complex server infrastructure are necessary.

    Parking space management rethought
     The increasing flexibility of the working world leads to inconsistent mobility behavior and makes efficient parking space management a challenge. “During peak and office hours, there is a lot of pressure to park in the vicinity of office buildings, for example, from employees. After work and at the weekends, on the other hand, the parking lot is often empty,” explains Dr.-Ing. Maximilian Russmann. The system enables parking spaces to be allocated dynamically, thus minimizing undesirable utilization fluctuations. Rüßmann continues: "We create needs-based usage options for all user groups of a parking area with contingents that can be configured flexibly in terms of time, which are managed efficiently and digitally."

    Lean, digital processes reduce the administrative effort. Those authorized to park can book the parking space themselves via the system. Simply providing the vehicle registration number is sufficient. When entering, the camera then recognizes this number plate and the barrier at the entrance to the parking lot opens. The smart parking space management leads to higher satisfaction among parkers and to more sustainability. In addition, the more efficient use of space ensures fewer CO2 emissions and reduced traffic looking for a parking space, less traffic noise and surface sealing.

  • Kick-off for the energy film Züri 2022

    Kick-off for the energy film Züri 2022

    After last year's success, more than 40 young people in a total of 20 teams will compete in this year's energy film Züri. For six months, the participants produce professional film spots for the climate. On November 18, 2022, there will be a big showdown in front of the audience at the Abaton cinema: a top-class jury chaired by Zurich City Councilor Michael Baumer will select the best commercials and award the coveted film prizes.

    ideas for climate protection
     This year's edition of the Energy Film Züri started with a first workshop for the participants. Rainer Schöne, member of the management board of Energie 360°, called out to the young people in his brief greeting: “We need you. The climate needs you. Ideas are needed from all of us on how to keep our future worth living in."

    Silvia Banfi Frost, Energy Commissioner for the City of Zurich, stated: «I am delighted that the energy film Züri is such a success and that it is taking place for the second time. It's just great to see the commitment with which the young people are committed to the climate. That gives courage."

    Big award
     The young people taking part are between 13 and 18 years old and mostly come from the canton of Zurich. Alone or in a team, they produce a one-minute spot that focuses on climate protection. All submitted films will be premiered in front of an audience on November 18, 2022 at the big award ceremony in the Abaton cinema. The best films will be awarded. Both the best film and the best idea are awarded. Additional categories are the Audience Award and the Online Award. The winning films will run as commercials in Zurich cinemas for a month in 2023. In addition, the creators get an exclusive appearance at the Zurich Film Festival, which is the official partner of Energiefilm Züri. Christian Jungs, director of the Zurich Film Festival: «The energy film Züri and the Zurich Film Festival go together perfectly. The young people gain experience in making films, and at the same time we are all committed to a really good and important cause. The energy film Züri is great.»

    Professional support
     The young people are supported in the production of the spots by professional coaches. During the entire production and at special workshops, they benefit from the knowledge of internationally established filmmakers. The films will be judged by a jury chaired by City Councilor Michael Baumer. Other members of the jury are the Zurich actress Nadine Michelle Arnet, Christian Jungs, Director of the Zurich Film Festival, Jörg Wild, CEO Energie 360°, Silvia Banfi Frost, Energy Commissioner of the City of Zurich and film director Karin Heberlein.

    Future is sustainable
    Energy 360° is committed to a sustainable energy future. For this reason, the company also wants to make the creativity of young people more heard. CEO Jörg Wild: "The uniqueness of the earth is in the foreground in the Energy Film Züri but also in our daily work. Energie 360° works daily on innovative, sustainable energy solutions for the future. The energy film Züri offers the right stage for the ideas of young people.» The winners of the best idea will also be specially invited to visit the Energy 360° innovation lab, the lab360.

  • Artificial intelligence to achieve gas reduction by 15%

    Artificial intelligence to achieve gas reduction by 15%

    Die meisten Energie-Sparmaßnahmen verursachen einen erheblichen Kapitalaufwand – die KI von Arloid kann dagegen kostenlos implementiert werden, bis notwendige Einsparungen erzielt werden. Dies macht die KI-Lösung zu einer der günstigsten und einfachsten Möglichkeiten für EU-Staaten, den Energieverbrauch ohne Vorabkosten erheblich zu senken. Sobald Einsparungen festgestellt werden – dies ist üblicherweise nach 30 Tagen der Fall – kann eine prozentuale Gebühr berechnet werden.

    Eine Reduzierung des Energieverbrauchs lässt sich durch eine Reihe einfacher Schritte erreichen: Zunächst wird ein virtuelles Gebäude erstellt, das zu dem identisch ist, in dem Einsparungen erzielt werden sollen. Der digitale Gebäude-Zwilling verfügt dabei über gleiche Baumaterialien, Lage, Klima und Personal-Eigenschaften. Die KI erstellt daraufhin eine Reihe von Simulationen auf Grundlage der Live-Daten des realen Gebäudes. Der komplette Vorgang benötigt rund einen Monat.

    Die KI reguliert daraufhin selbstständig und kontinuierlich die Heiz-, Lüftungs- sowie Kühleinstellungen und führt so zu direkten, realen Einsparungen. Bisher wurden dafür notwendige Einstellungen von Gebäudetechnikern oder Hausverwaltern vorgenommen, was im Vergleich deutlich mehr Zeitaufwand erfordert. Die Automatisierung durch KI spart damit nicht nur Energie und Geld ein, sondern verbessert zugleich auch die Steuerung und den Bedienkomfort.

    Die KI von Arloid nutzt Deep Reinforcement Learning, um den Betrieb von HLK-Systemen in einer Vielzahl von Gebäuden über ein sicheres Virtual Private Network (VPN) automatisch zu verwalten. Die von der KI ausgeführten Regulierungen basieren dabei auf der Grundlage von Verstärkungsverhalten und Echtzeitdaten, um eine schnellere Optimierung und bessere HLK-Leistung zu erreichen. Durch die Steuerung jedes HLK-Geräts im System und die Aufteilung des Gebäudes in Heiz- und Kühlmikrozonen stellt arloid.ai mehr Kontrolle über die Umgebung und besseren Benutzerkomfort bereit.

    Die Technologie gewinnt nicht nur in Europa, sondern weltweit an Bedeutung, mithilfe der sich direkte Einsparungen auf schätzungsweise über 56 Mio. qm2 Fläche erzielt lassen. Dazu zählen Immobilien und Geschäftsgebäude wie u.a. Einzelhandel, Hotels, medizinische Zentren bis hin zu Lagerhäusern. Durch die Reduzierung des Gebäude-Energieverbrauchs kann so unmittelbar den Auswirkungen von Energieversorgungsproblemen, höheren Preisen und Inflation entgegengewirkt werden.

    KI sollte deshalb EU-weit weit oben auf der politischen Agenda stehen, um die Mitgliedsstaaten dabei zu unterstützen, ihre freiwilligen Gasreduktionsziele von 15 % zu erreichen. Es ist nicht so schwer zu erreichen, wie es zunächst erscheint, weil neue Technologien mit sehr wenig Aufwand eine wichtige Rolle dabei übernehmen können. In jeden Fall ist es ein offensichtlicher und erreichbarer erster Schritt in Richtung EU-Ziele und bietet jenen Ländern eine bessere Option an, die gedimmtes Licht und kürzeres Duschen empfehlen.

    Weitere Information unter: arloid.com

  • Building program paid out record sum

    Building program paid out record sum

    According to a press release from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy ( SFOE ), around 361 million francs in subsidies for energy-efficient building refurbishment were approved by the federal government and the cantons in 2021. This is the highest amount that has been invested in renovation and new construction projects since the program was launched. Compared to 2020, the funding amount has increased by CHF 62 million.

    Thermal insulation projects, which were funded with CHF 126 million, received the largest amount. The highest increase of 70 percent compared to 2020 was achieved by building services projects, which received CHF 106 million in grants. The commitments for energy-related measures that will be implemented over the next five years have reached a new high of CHF 490 million.

    The high demand for subsidies can be attributed to the broad approval of owners for energy-efficient renovation of their properties or new builds. According to calculations, the measures approved in the year under review will lead to a reduction in energy consumption in buildings throughout Switzerland by 6.5 billion kilowatt hours and lower CO2 emissions by around 1.8 million tonnes over their lifetime.

    According to the statement, the building program has proven to be an effective instrument of Swiss energy and climate policy. A total of around CHF 2.7 billion has been paid out under the funding program since its introduction in 2010. The building program also has a positive effect on the economy. In 2021, 2,300 full-time jobs and around CHF 97 million in additional domestic value were created.

  • Common cause with intelligent mandate access solution

    Common cause with intelligent mandate access solution

    In practice, a change of property management involves a number of pitfalls when it comes to handing over the extensive dossiers. Especially when the new administration works with digital dossiers, this involves a great deal of manual effort. Because the documents available in paper form or as PDFs have to be transferred from the old administration to the company's own filing structure. Digitally available documents are often even printed out and scanned in again in order to then be sorted, reorganized and re-cataloged. The mandate access solution, which was developed jointly, covers the entire process from any scanning to the automatic classification and keywording of the documents to the targeted transfer to the digital archive.

    Artificial intelligence as a core component
    At its core, the mandate access solution consists of a logic based on artificial intelligence, which was trained in advance for the property-specific documents and the administration's own filing structure. With the mandate access solution, each mandate access is now smoothly and quickly transferred to the designated target system. Due to the high degree of automation, a cumbersome and tedious process can now be implemented very leanly and largely automated. The work preparation for the scanning can be reduced to a minimum, which leads to valuable time savings.

    «With the new mandate access process, we have solved a fundamental problem in management together. It doesn't matter whether the documents are handed over in physical or digital form, we now have a simple and smart solution for transferring all documents to the audit-proof archive in the form we want, automatically and with practically no manual effort," explains Martin Frei, Chief Digital Officer at VERIT Immobilien AG.

    Significant added value for the industry
    Since digital access to mandates is a major problem throughout the industry and there is still no automated end-to-end solution on the market, the two companies are also launching digital access to mandates for third parties, which makes the established mandate access solution available to all other industry participants as a service puts. The industry can thus benefit from the preparatory work that has been done and manage its own mandate access – whether analogue, digital or hybrid – with the same solution in the future. This is added value for the entire industry and closes a gap that is currently still wide open and is becoming more and more relevant the more administrations also keep digital dossiers.

    Stefan Röösli, Account Manager Real Estate at Arcplace: «In this project, together we were able to combine advanced technologies into an overall solution. The AI technologies are not only used as buzzwords, but also concretely and as a central component for an everyday process. We are convinced that this solution can make life easier for the real estate industry.»

  • 40 years on the grid – Europe's first photovoltaic system in Switzerland

    40 years on the grid – Europe's first photovoltaic system in Switzerland

    Ticino Solare was installed on the roof of a technical college building near Lugano. On May 13, 1982, the south-facing facility supplied power to the grid. The installed power: 10 kWp. That was unusual at the time. Later the panels were transferred to another building.

    The condition, quality, color and performance of the solar cells were regularly checked and measured. An investigation after 35 years of operation came to the conclusion that the cells are showing signs of wear – keywords are corrosion, burned areas (hot spots), cracks in the cells or defective connection cables. But: The majority of the modules still worked well and still delivered at least 80 percent of the power overall. Manufacturers of solar panels usually guarantee a service life of 25 to 30 years.

    Energeiaplus asked Mauro Caccivio what makes TISO-10 special. Caccivio heads the photovoltaics laboratory at the Ticino University of Applied Sciences SUPSI. "It's absolutely amazing. Looking at the black and white photos from back then and considering the technological advances that have been made since then, you can understand how visionary the project was and how courageous the team behind it was. TISO was important for the subsequent massive spread of solar energy: right from the start of its industrial phase, photovoltaic technology was able to return the energy required for the production of solar modules to the power grid many times over. This is crucial to minimize the impact on the environment and nature, and this is even more true today given the tremendous evolution we are witnessing,

  • Electricity tariffs 2023 also CKW must increase

    Electricity tariffs 2023 also CKW must increase

    In the past twelve months, global energy prices have risen massively. Electricity prices on the market have increased tenfold. In addition to the war in Ukraine, the main drivers are the after-effects of the corona pandemic and a lower availability of foreign power plants. These price increases lead to higher electricity procurement costs. In addition, there are also significantly higher costs for the national grid company Swissgrid for the transmission grid.

    As a result, CKW's energy and grid tariffs will increase in 2023, as will most energy suppliers in Switzerland. For a private customer with a medium power consumption, this results in an increase in the additional costs of around CHF 23 per month, for SMEs in the basic service with a medium power consumption they amount to around CHF 500 per month.

    The regulatory requirements require that both the company's own production and the procurement of electricity on the market are included in the price calculation. In times of rising market prices, this leads to higher tariffs. When market prices are low, this has a positive effect on electricity customers.

    The production of solar power is more worthwhile than ever
     On the other hand, the high prices are having a positive effect on solar power producers. Because the electricity fed into the grid is remunerated according to the SFOE reference market price, which is based on the market price. In the first half of 2022, this averaged 23.0 centimes per kilowatt hour. For comparison: two years earlier it was 3 centimes per kilowatt hour. The revenue from solar power has thus increased eightfold. An average 15 kWp solar system on the roof of a family home will generate an additional yield of over CHF 2,000 per year. The production of solar power is currently more worthwhile than ever.

    Current developments show how dependent Switzerland still is on other countries. The expansion of renewable energies is key to becoming more independent as a country.

    Tips for saving electricity
     With simple measures you can reduce your own electricity consumption and thus also the costs.• The generation of heat is one of the largest electricity consumers. It is therefore worth setting the heating correctly: in the living room to 20 degrees, in the bedroom to 16 degrees. You save 6 percent on heating costs for every degree lower in temperature.• Washing dishes in a full machine uses half as much energy as by hand.• Showering with water-saving attachments saves up to 50 percent water – and therefore also a lot of energy for hot water preparation.• Showering instead of bathing saves around 70 liters of water – or 65 centimes per shower.• Switching off the light when you don't need it is always worthwhile – even if it's only for a short time.• In Swiss households, around 10 percent of electricity is wasted, especially when it's not used through standby consumption. It is worth turning off devices such as TVs, game consoles, coffee machines, etc. when they are not in use. For example, with a socket strip that can be switched off.• Heating water in a kettle instead of in a pan uses about half as much energy.• Replacing conventional light bulbs or energy-saving lamps with LED lights can significantly reduce consumption.

    Source and other electricity saving tips www.ckw.ch/energiespartipps

  • Energie 360° renovates its headquarters in Altstetten

    Energie 360° renovates its headquarters in Altstetten

    Energie 360° wants to convert and repair its headquarters at Aargauerstrasse 182 in Altstetten, which was built in 2003. The energy supplier, which is majority owned by the city of Zurich , is investing almost 28 million francs in this. In its capacity as client representative, the Office for Buildings of the City of Zurich has now submitted the corresponding building application, the city administration and energy company inform in a joint statement . They expect construction to begin next spring.

    The conversion work is intended to adapt the headquarters to the requirements of a modern working environment "with flexible and hybrid working concepts", according to the statement. For this purpose, the existing premises are to be redesigned “into an open office landscape” with correspondingly modernized building services. A large-scale photovoltaic system is planned for the facades and roof.

    After a "strategic review", the management of Energie 360° has given up on initial considerations of adding a new building to the existing building, the statement explains further. Instead, the existing building should be optimized "for an efficient and result-oriented working environment". Jessenvollweider Architektur from Basel is responsible for the architectural concept.

    By 2040, Energie 360° wants to switch its offer exclusively to energy from renewable sources. According to the announcement, the conversion of the headquarters is driving this “transformation of the company and enables targeted energy saving measures in our own operations”.

  • EWA-energieUri creates a new solar community

    EWA-energieUri creates a new solar community

    EWA-energieUri is realizing the Uri solar community in Schattdorf. As the Uri energy provider announced , it wants to set up a photovoltaic system on the roof of the Uri Foundation for Disabled Persons, in which interested private parties can also participate. They can now reserve individual square meters of the facility for a fixed price of CHF 339. In return, they receive solar power for over 20 years.

    The plant is to generate a total of 49,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year on 260 square meters. That is 165 kilowatt hours per square meter, around 4 percent of the consumption of an average household. Commissioning of the plant is planned for spring 2023. Interested parties can already reserve their share at meinurstrom-sun.ch .

    "The Uri solar community is an attractive product for producing and purchasing solar power easily and easily, even without your own roof," Werner Jauch, CEO of EWA-energieUri, is quoted as saying in the press release.

  • Women's power for the energy transition

    Women's power for the energy transition

    Im Energiesektor ist der Frauenanteil seit jeher gering, in Führungspositionen erst recht. Die Bedingungen sind für Frauen schwieriger als für Männer. Das beginnt schon bei der Ausbildung, denn Frauen trauen sich immer noch zu selten, mathematisch-naturwissenschaftliche oder technische Berufe zu ergreifen. Dabei bringen sie nicht weniger mathematisches oder technisches Verständnis mit, sind aber gleichzeitig stark am Gemeinwohl und an Innovationen interessiert.  

    Klimabewegung in weiblicher Hand 
    Eine gute Nachricht vorweg: Der Frauenanteil im Bereich der erneuerbaren Energien wächst stärker als im konventionellen Energiesektor. Ein möglicher Grund könnte das steigende Bewusstsein für den Klimawandel sein, denn schlussendlich ist weltweit die Klimabewegung weitgehend weiblich. Zudem geben Frauen als Grund für ihre Berufswahl häufig an, mit ihrer Tätigkeit etwas Sinnvolles tun zu wollen. Frauenpower ist also erwünscht: Denn es ist längst erwiesen, dass Unternehmen von einer vielfältigeren Belegschaft und einem gemischten Führungsteam nachhaltig profitieren.

    Doch wie sieht es eigentlich beim Energielösungsunternehmen Helion aus, dass in einer typischerweise Männer dominierten Branche tätig ist. Oder ist dem überhaupt so? Und wo genau sind die Frauen im Unternehmen zu finden? Wir haben nachgefragt: Derzeit machen Frauen nur 12 Prozent der Belegschaft aus und sind vor allem in den Bereichen Marketing, Öffentlichkeitsarbeit und Personalwesen anzutreffen. Aber nicht nur! Weitere Infos auf www.helion.ch News.

  • Galileo cooperates with solar manufacturer Pagra from Poland

    Galileo cooperates with solar manufacturer Pagra from Poland

    Galileo and Pagra have signed a partnership agreement for the Polish market. According to a press release , the Zurich-based platform Galileo, which specializes in renewable energies, and the photovoltaic provider Pagra from Rogaszyce in Poland want to join forces to reduce the energy bills of companies in Poland.

    Galileo, which traded as Galileo Green Energy GmbH until mid-July, has acquired a 35 percent stake in Pagra as part of the partnership, with the option to further increase its stake after 24 months, according to the partnership announcement.

    “Pagra is a dynamic company that is at the forefront of the energy transition in Poland. It develops very effective power supply solutions for business customers in Poland,” Ingmar Wilhelm, CEO of Galileo, is quoted as saying. These customers are suffering from the sharp rise in wholesale prices, as price volatility is high and supply security is low, Wilhelm continued. Galileo will support Pagra in expanding its business across Poland and will complement its technical and energy competencies.

    Since 2020, Pagra has been offering photovoltaic roof systems in south-west and central Poland and is now expanding its activities throughout Poland. Business customers are offered the opportunity to save on investment costs by concluding a long-term electricity supply contract based on a photovoltaic system financed by the installer. This solution is called Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS).

    "We see a growing interest in this solution from both private companies and public institutions," Kornel Dybul, President of Pagra, is quoted as saying.

  • Individually air-conditioned offices increase well-being

    Individually air-conditioned offices increase well-being

    People feel differently comfortable under the same temperature conditions. This has now been confirmed by measurements by researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne ( EPFL ) in a normal office environment. They collected thermophysiological data from test subjects. According to a statement by the EPFL, they show that age and gender influence metabolism. And this in turn can vary depending on diet, season and daily rhythm.

    Air conditioners are currently designed for space, not people, explains Dolaana Khovalyg, assistant professor at EPFL’s Faculty of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering and head of the Integrated Comfort Engineering Laboratory . 80 percent of employees feel comfortable with an average office temperature of 21 degrees in winter, but 20 percent do not. “Our goal is to make everyone feel good, without exception.”

    The ability to accurately measure a person’s energy use paves the way for a new breed of technology that feeds the collected data into central heating and cooling systems. These in turn can adjust the temperature in a specific area, such as a desk, in real time, thereby optimizing energy consumption in buildings.

    Now the research team is looking for less invasive measurement methods than the silicone face masks and body sensors that the subjects had to wear. It currently works with infrared cameras. Questions of data protection are still to be clarified. Their study was recently published in the Obesity Journal.

  • ewz builds second solar system on dam wall

    ewz builds second solar system on dam wall

    ewz is building its second large-scale solar system on the Valle di Lei dam at over 1,900 meters above sea level. The Graubünden municipality of Ferrera issued the building permit for this in November 2021. According to a press release , more than 1,000 modules will be installed on the Valle di Lei dam wall of the Hinterrhein power plant ( KHR ) over a length of 550 meters. Most of the construction and installation work is carried out by KHR employees.

    The system was developed and planned by Reech GmbH from Landquart GR. It will have an output of 343.2 kilowatt peak. Annual production will be around 380 megawatt hours. According to ewz, this corresponds to the annual electricity requirements of around 160 households in Zurich.

    High alpine photovoltaic systems are particularly efficient. According to the information, they deliver 25 percent more electricity on average over the year than systems in the Mittelland. They also produce around half of the annual electricity in winter. As a result, according to ewz, they contribute to security of supply in the winter months.

    Similar to the first photovoltaic system from ewz on the Albigna dam, ewz customers can also participate in Lago di Lei – Solar. 73 percent of the available space has already been sold.

  • Energie 360° starts construction of the Tiefenbrunnen energy network

    Energie 360° starts construction of the Tiefenbrunnen energy network

    The Zurich-based energy supplier Energie 360° will start building the Tiefenbrunnen energy network on July 25. According to a press release , by 2030, 5,300 residents in Tiefenbrunnen will be using renewable energy from Lake Zurich. Energie 360° is investing CHF 60 million in the new energy network.

    From July, work on the construction of the lake water catchment and the underground energy center is to begin. The energy center is being built under the parking lot at the Zürichhorn. According to the information, the first lines of the heating network are to be laid in the coming year. From 2024, the first of a total of 400 properties will be connected to the new heat supply.

    The Tiefenbrunnen network is an important building block on the way to becoming a climate-neutral city. Zurich aims to reach net zero by 2040. Heat from the lake represents a “climate-friendly, secure supply alternative” to heat from gas heating.

    After completion of the energy network and the resulting replacement of fossil heating, Zurich will save 6,500 tons per year. That is as much CO2 as 290,000 trees could filter out of the air every year.

    Energie 360° wants to shut down the gas network wherever climate-friendly heating solutions will be created in the next few years. Further energy networks using lake water are being developed for Zurich-Lengg, Zurich-Wollishofen and Thalwil.

    “The City of Zurich is driving the transformation forward consistently and quickly together with its energy supply companies,” Silvia Banfi Frost, Energy Commissioner for the City of Zurich, is quoted as saying in the press release.

  • The government of Uri rejects the environmental associations' objection to the renewal of a license for CHC

    The government of Uri rejects the environmental associations' objection to the renewal of a license for CHC

    Rapid expansion of renewable energies is more necessary than ever. The hunger for electricity in Switzerland is growing, the reliability of electricity imports from abroad is dwindling and a third of the annual domestic electricity production will be lost with the phasing out of nuclear energy. In short: new power plants urgently need to be built to prevent power shortages in Switzerland very soon.

    In 2018, the Canton of Uri publicly published the modified license application for the use of the Meienreuss and thus advocated the expansion of renewable energies in the canton of Uri. The environmental organizations WWF and Pro Natura then raised an objection. CKW repeatedly sought dialogue with the objectors to reach an agreement, but without success. At its meeting on July 5, 2022, the government of Uri rejected the objections of the environmental associations and thus sent an important signal for the energy transition. The environmental associations can lodge an appeal with the Uri High Court on this decision and thus take legal action, which can go as far as the Federal Supreme Court. This would trigger a massive project delay. However, CKW CEO Martin Schwab hopes that they too have recognized the seriousness of the situation: “In terms of the energy transition and in view of the current energy crisis, it must be possible for us to implement such important projects of national importance quickly. This requires targeted action on all sides. You can’t be in favor of the energy transition, the expansion of renewable energies and more climate protection and at the same time block important projects,” says Schwab.

    Power station of national importance produces electricity for the people of Uri
    The Meiental power plant is located in the municipal area of Wassen and is a joint project by CKW and several local partners. The total investment is around CHF 37 million. Hydropower has been the backbone of electricity supply in Switzerland for over 100 years. Because it produces ecologically sustainable, renewable electricity reliably and predictably at all times – even in winter. However, due to ecological requirements, hydropower is facing production losses of around 10 percent by 2050. With the Meiental run-of-river power plant, CKW wants to make an important contribution to more renewable electricity production and security of supply in the canton of Uri. The targeted annual production is 32 GWh. This corresponds to the consumption of around 7100 average 4-person households.

    Original project revised and reduced
    The power plant project meets all the requirements of the “Protection and use concept for renewable energies in the canton of Uri” (SNEE). The SNEE shows where in the canton of Uri systems for energy production from renewable sources such as water, wind and sun can be set up and where landscapes and watercourses should be preserved undiminished. Based on the SNEE, CKW has revised its original project submitted in 2008 and reduced it from two to one power station stage in the lower reaches of the Meienreuss. The use of the ecologically more valuable upper course with partial floodplain character as well as the alpine tributaries is dispensed with. With a protection and use plan, these parts of the body of water are excluded from use for energy production for the concession period of 80 years that has been applied for.

    Due to the large production volume, the Meiental power plant is considered a power plant of national importance under the Swiss Energy Act. The national public interest in safe electricity production thus takes precedence over regional protection interests. Furthermore, without this power plant, it would not be possible for the Canton of Uri to be able to achieve its own expansion target of 150 GWh for its own energy production.

  • Photovoltaics accelerate growth

    Photovoltaics accelerate growth

    The share of solar power in the total electricity consumption in Switzerland has reached almost 6 percent, explains Swissolar in a statement . The association of the Swiss solar energy industry relies on the solar energy statistics published by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy . According to her, the expansion of photovoltaics in 2021 rose by 43 percent year-on-year to 683 megawatts. In total, systems with a total capacity of around 3.65 gigawatts have been installed. They produced a total of 2.84 terawatt hours of solar power in 2021.

    However, in order to close the gap created by the planned phase-out of fossil fuels and nuclear power, solar power production would have to be increased to 45 terawatt hours per year, says Swissolar. This goal can be achieved by using almost 40 percent of the currently existing roof areas by 2050. In an 11-point plan , Swissolar sets out how solar production can be increased to 25 terawatt hours by 2035. “This would mean that the water reserves in the reservoirs would be sufficiently large even in late winter and spring, despite the nuclear phase-out,” the statement said.

    For 2022, Swissolar is expecting further growth of 25 to 30 percent to 850 to 900 megawatts. Without bottlenecks in personnel and material, the increase could be even higher, believes Swissolar. The association demands reliable framework conditions for this. “Anyone who is now aligning their professional career with solar energy wants to be sure that the politically induced ‘stop-and-go’ of the last decade is a thing of the past,” Swissolar Managing Director David Stickelberger is quoted as saying in the statement.

  • Younergy issues green bond for solar energy

    Younergy issues green bond for solar energy

    According to a press release , Younergy Solar wants to democratize solar energy and is issuing a green bond worth CHF 5 million. Younergy’s business model is understood as democratization. The Lausanne-based company installs photovoltaic systems on the roofs of its customers and assumes the entire costs of installation, maintenance and monitoring. As a result, customers – from single-family homes to large companies – produce their own electricity without any upfront investment and instead only pay for the energy produced. When the amortization period has expired, the system becomes the property of the customer. This means that everyone can generate and use solar power regardless of their personal budget.

    “We are the only ones in Switzerland that cover single-family homes as well as buildings with larger roofs. That was the key to our rapid growth,” Pedro Miranda, CEO and co-founder of Younergy, is quoted as saying. “The energy transition is mainly taking place at the local level. That’s why we want to expand this solution further,” Miranda continues. The sharp increase in energy prices and the uncertain energy supply in connection with the geopolitical situation required local supply. Electricity prices are likely to rise by more than 20 percent in Switzerland in 2023. With the Younergy solution, on the other hand, significantly lower prices are possible for private individuals and companies. The demand is therefore increasing sharply.

    So far, the company, which was founded in 2015 by a group of solar energy experts at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne ( EPFL ) and is funded by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy ( SFOE ), already operates 480 such photovoltaic systems throughout Switzerland.

  • Zurich gets loading houses

    Zurich gets loading houses

    The Zug -based AMAG Group has set up Switzerland’s first charging station in the Utoquai car park at Färberstrasse 6 in Zurich, the automobile company said in a press release . 50 of the 150 parking spaces in the multi-storey car park were equipped with a charging station. Interested parties can rent such a parking space and charge their electric vehicle. The available price models for parking and charging including electricity are explained on parking.amag.ch .

    A good charging infrastructure is becoming increasingly important in view of the increasing number of newly registered electric vehicles, explains Hendrik Lütjens in the press release. “With the Utoquai loading house, AMAG Parking offers residents in Zurich’s Seefeld a sustainable and convenient solution and contributes to the more efficient use of inner-city areas,” says the Managing Director of AMAG Parking AG. “Further multi-storey car parks from AMAG Parking AG will follow, further facilitating the switch to electromobility.”

    AMAG intends to open its next loading house in the Kongress parking garage in Zurich this month. A total of 28 charging stations are planned here. In the fall, the AMAG Group plans to install a further 61 charging stations in the Messe Zürich multi-storey car park in Oerlikon.

  • Cowa receives 1 million francs from investors

    Cowa receives 1 million francs from investors

    In a first round of financing, Cowa Thermal Solutions AG has received over CHF 1 million from private investors and its own founders Remo Waser and Simon Maranda. According to an article on the startupticker.ch portal, the young company based in Lucerne’s Technopark wants to use the fresh capital to market its heating storage system for heat pumps on a larger scale.

    The cleantech start-up is developing a heating storage system with capsules that contain environmentally friendly salts as a phase change material. A tank filled with the capsules can absorb three times more energy than a conventional water tank for heat pumps. According to the information, this makes a heating system less dependent on mains electricity. In addition, unlike batteries or rechargeable batteries, it does not use lithium.

    The storage tank filled with Cowa capsules has been available from the building technology company Meier Tobler since April of this year. According to startupticker.ch, the additional costs for the Cowa product compared to conventional storage systems are quickly balanced out due to the energy density and longevity of 20 years.

    In addition to further scaling on the domestic market, the company would like to expand to Germany soon. Initial talks with potential sales partners have already taken place.