Category: Energy

Homeowners are ready to switch to renewable heating

The focus of the eleventh customer barometer renewable energies presented by Raiffeisen Switzerland is on the deployment and use of heating technologies, solar systems and electromobility. According to a media release , the survey by Raiffeisen, the University of St.Gallen and EnergieSchweiz showed that half of the homeowners surveyed are generally willing to replace their oil or gas heating with a more environmentally friendly technology.

A quarter of those surveyed have not yet thought about a replacement, according to the media release. 30 percent of those surveyed already use climate-friendly heating technologies such as heat pumps, solar thermal energy and district heating. But 28 percent still heat with oil. Around a fifth of these have already opted for a climate-friendly replacement in the next few years.

According to the Raiffeisen report, photovoltaic systems (PVA) are currently growing exponentially. 22 percent of the homeowners surveyed already have a system for generating solar power. 30 percent could imagine a purchase in the near future. This year’s study also looked at battery storage for photovoltaic systems. The main arguments for this are given as a 26 percent increase in revenue from electricity production, 23 percent a reduction in CO2 emissions and a reduction in electricity costs (22 percent).

According to the announcement, Raiffeisen relies on a holistic advisory process to increase the modernization rate. “We are convinced that long-term planning and financial preparation of the investment in the property are decisive success factors in order to carry out the optimal modernization measures at the right time,” Roland Altwegg, Head of New Business Models & Ecosystems at Raiffeisen Switzerland, is quoted as saying. And: “What is often forgotten: Environmentally friendly technologies also increase the value of a property.”

November 2021
Yes I do. Renovation for the future.
- The single-family house from the sixties …
- … is hardly recognizable after the gradual renovation.
- The covered main entrance with carport.
Flumroc AG has been committed to energy-efficient and professionally implemented modernizations for years and supports the federal government’s energy strategy with various commitments.

With your new information campaign “Yes, I do. Renovation for the future. ” draws your attention to the need for renovations and offers building owners, interested parties and experts an online information platform. Potential builders often shy away from the expense of an energetic renovation. Flumroc shows that with the right support and approach and precise planning, nothing stands in the way of successful implementation.

Stock analysis
The free eVALO analysis tool provides initial guidance as to which renovation measures make sense. With a few clicks you can simulate your renovation and receive initial information on the energetic state of your property. It also provides you with initial clues about investments and financing.

In a next step, it is advisable to have a so-called GEAK (building energy certificate of the cantons) issued by a specialist. This evaluates the quality of the building envelope and the energy efficiency of the building technology.

An inventory analysis of your property can also be carried out by other specialists, such as an energy advisor. The planning and implementation of comprehensive renovation measures is complex and should therefore be carried out by a planner with the appropriate professional competence.

In the right order to the goal
Decisive for a successful renovation are the coordinated renovation measures in the right order and the choice of the right material.

At the beginning of every renovation there is the insulation of the building envelope.

Energy-efficient windows can be installed to match the insulation. This is followed by the application of modern building technology. The residents benefit in many ways from a well-planned and holistically implemented renovation. You save costs in the long term and at the same time enjoy the most modern living comfort. In addition, renovations are in most cases more resource-efficient than demolitions.

Rely on the right materials in the long term
The awareness of the choice of the right materials is also very important. At this point you can make a significant contribution to sustainability and ecology. In addition, important aspects such as heat, noise and fire protection can be included in the decision-making process. Properties that distinguish Flumroc stone wool.

A very well insulated house needs less heating energy in winter and less cooling capacity in summer. The easy-to-process material provides excellent soundproofing and, with a melting point of over 1000 ° C, also provides excellent fire protection. In addition, Flumroc’s products meet the highest ecological standards with regard to the extraction of the raw material, transport, industrial processing, use on the building and recycling during dismantling. Because Flumroc stone wool is 100% recyclable!

With the FUTURO generation, Flumroc also offers insulation products with natural binders. The residents of the renovated buildings can enjoy a pleasant room climate all year round and benefit from an extremely high level of living comfort.

More information on this at: www.flumroc.ch/jaichwill
November 2021
Houzy launches energy calculator

Houzy now also offers an energy calculator on its platform as a further aid for property owners. According to a press release , this can be used to determine the energy efficiency of a building. In this way, Houzy promotes sustainable renovation measures as well as transparency for property owners and prospective buyers.

In addition, the energy calculator simulates the influence of energetic measures on energy consumption, heating costs and CO2 emissions. He takes into account the investment costs and calculates both the funding and the long-term savings potential. In four steps you can find out how facade insulation, insulated windows or a heat pump influence energy efficiency.

October 2021
Building the future of energy

The property right at the entrance of the municipality is less than 10 kilometers away from the city of Winterthur and is still an idyllic piece of land, with a direct connection to the banks of the Töss and with a view of meadows and forest. The goals of the Energy Strategy 2050 are being built here. The Verde Blu development has been inhabited since autumn 2019. So far, so normal. It is noteworthy, however, that this development covers a large proportion of its energy requirements itself and that exclusively from renewable sources. "The specifications of the Energy Strategy 2050 are an opportunity for the real estate industry," explains Dieter Stutz from Atlantis AG, which is active in the areas of environmental consulting, settlement planning and architecture and who developed the project. The heat supply via groundwater was the best and most convincing solution for the area. Atlantis planned and implemented this complex construction project together with EKZ.
Sustainable living as a need
The new construction project Verde Blu with nine residential and commercial buildings comprises 108 condominiums as well as various commercial areas that are used by a Migros branch, a community and a physiotherapy practice, among other things. An old, listed barn serves as a common room and provides rustic charm on the site. In contrast to this is the state-of-the-art technology that supplies the system with energy: groundwater is used as a heat source for the heating and hot water, which supplies the houses with decentralized heat pumps via a so-called anergiering. An anergy ring is a cold local heating system that, in contrast to conventional local heating systems, works with transfer temperatures below 30 degrees Celsius. Anergy networks therefore have no heat losses in the lines, but even achieve additional energy gains through the environmental heat. In summer, the buildings can be passively cooled with the groundwater via the anergy ring.
A photovoltaic system that is optimally designed to meet the needs of the building provides the electrical energy for the building. The complex was only built after the apartments had already been occupied. Because they wanted to leave the decision for or against solar power to the owners. The fact that the system with a peak output of 100 kilowatts was approved by an overwhelming majority at the first owners' meeting in winter 2019 speaks for itself. Martin Nicklas, who is responsible for modern energy solutions at EKZ, is not surprised: "In the real estate sector, we have long known the need to make a contribution to sustainability in the living area as well." A charging infrastructure for the 209 parking spaces was installed in the lower-level garage. Thanks to load curve management, it is possible to charge the cars in stages if a whole fleet of electric vehicles should one day populate the garage.
Well-coordinated system
In Kollbrunn, power generation as well as heating and cooling generation and electromobility are combined in an integrated energy system. The centerpiece is an intelligent control system that maximizes the self-consumption rate and takes over load management. In this way, what is actually the most important goal can be achieved: that the electricity produced by the PV system is also consumed as much as possible on site. The controller uses weather forecasts from an external weather portal for this purpose. An algorithm in the control system evaluates this data and decides on the previous evening whether enough solar power will be produced the next day to charge the boiler and storage tank of the heating system. If the solar production is too low, the boilers are charged during the night at the low tariff, otherwise the system waits until enough solar power is available the next day to start the heat pump.

October 2021
Revolutionary energy storage

The apartment buildings in Seebrighof store solar power in the form of hydrogen. Dr. Martin Nicklas, Head of Energy Contracting at EKZ, explains the revolutionary power-to-gas concept: “On summer days, the solar system on the roof of the Seebrighof will produce more electricity than the residents can use. The so-called power-to-gas plant turns this into hydrogen. In winter the energy requirement is higher. Then the stored hydrogen is converted into energy. Around 55 percent of this is used to generate electricity in the system’s fuel cells. The remaining 45 percent of the energy escapes as waste heat, which is used to heat the building. ” The hydrogen is produced from tap water that is processed directly in the plant. Oxygen is created as a quasi waste product, which escapes into the ambient air. This is environmentally friendly because in winter the hydrogen is converted back into water and renewable energy with oxygen from the air. This closes the cycle. The system only uses locally produced solar power for production, and the public power grid is relieved.

EKZ as a pioneer
With a battery in the house, short-term fluctuations in solar power production in the summer are absorbed and, for example, solar power is stored for the night. The P2G system constantly converts the excess remaining free into hydrogen. As a result, it can be implemented more cost-effectively and operated more efficiently. For Nicklas, EKZ is taking on a pioneering role in the conversion to renewable energy supply: “For the first time in Switzerland, a P2G system is being implemented that can also be used cost-effectively in other properties of different sizes – even in existing buildings. With the system, we are testing the potential of seasonal energy storage from solar power for the winter. ” There are a few properties with hydrogen systems in Switzerland, including in the canton of Zurich. The difference in the project in the Seebrighof is the standardized concept, which can be easily and inexpensively applied to other buildings.

Power-to-gas system
But it gets even better: thanks to the power-to-gas system, most of the solar power can be used locally. The electrical efficiency of the P2G system is around 30 to 35 percent across all processes. The rest is generated as waste heat, which is used for hot water heating in summer and for heating in winter. Would you be able to supply yourself with energy completely independently at the Seebrighof? – «This would be technically possible and is already being done in this way in individual properties. However, this would be very costly and was therefore not the aim of this project. “

Safe hydrogen storage
Appropriate safety precautions must be taken when storing flammable and potentially explosive gases such as natural gas or hydrogen. These measures are checked by the authorities to ensure safe installations. Hydrogen is usually stored outdoors, with any leakage gas quickly volatilizing and thus preventing an explosive mixture. In the current case, according to Nicklas, the H2 is stored in commercially available gas cylinders that fully meet Swiss safety standards and norms.

When is a P2G system worthwhile?
The answer depends on many factors and must always relate to the specific building project and the requirements of the client, as Nicklas explains: “The fundamental question is how often the hydrogen storage tank can be charged per year. Because with each charging cycle, the system generates a contribution margin that contributes to amortization. We are also testing this potential with the system and are further developing the concept accordingly. ” The client of the Seebrighof is also demonstrating a pioneering spirit with the project. In this way, she does not only have the system installed from a purely monetary point of view. One would like to lead the way here and make a contribution to reducing the supply gap in winter – making society more independent of energy imports from fossil sources. The facility at Seebrighof can be financed well thanks to its cost-effective implementation, says Nicklas. She makes a significant contribution to research into seasonal storage technologies: “How economically effective the technology is is the subject of our investigations. In the next few years, however, we expect another significant price reduction on the hydrogen market, which could give the technology a boost.

Energy strategy 2050
In the Federal Council’s Energy Strategy 2050, storage technologies based on gases and liquids have a high priority. With the first standardized power-to-gas system, EKZ has reached an important milestone that could serve as an example for future developments. Nicklas concludes: “If we want to fully feed heat and power supply as well as mobility with renewable energy sources, we need efforts in all areas. Hydrogen as a storage medium can help to defuse the challenges of power supply in winter ».

October 2021
Comprehensive energy systems by EKZ

The pressure on holistic ecosystems around real estate and their energy solutions is growing. EKZ simplifies this task with clever solutions.
The combination and central management of electricity generation and storage, heat and cooling generation and electromobility in an integrated energy system leads to the simplification of property management, maximum living and working comfort and optimal energy efficiency in production. In addition, ecological sustainability is ensured.
The goals of the Energy Strategy 2050 are being built here. Most of the Verdeblu development has been completed and inhabited since autumn 2019. It is noteworthy that this development covers a large proportion of its energy needs itself, and that exclusively from renewable sources.
"The specifications of the Energy Strategy 2050 are also an opportunity for the real estate industry," explains Dieter Stutz from Atlantis AG, which is active in the areas of environmental consulting, settlement planning and architecture and who developed the project. The heat supply via groundwater was the best and most convincing solution for the area. Atlantis planned and implemented this complex construction project together with EKZ.
On-site energy production
The “Grand Chemin” development was built in Epalinges in western Switzerland, with some of the electricity required being produced on site by a photovoltaic system (PV). A new multi-family house is being built in Emmen (LU), which will be characterized by four heat pump systems with groundwater as an energy source and a photovoltaic system with ZEV. Seen in this way, the future of energy has long since begun in this country as well.
Text: Mohan Mani, Image: zVg.

October 2021
App facilitates energy planning for buildings

With Polysun, Vela Solaris AG from Winterthur has developed a solution that should facilitate the planning of energy systems for buildings and neighborhoods. It makes it possible to simulate energy systems in these environments. In this way, possible energy systems can be displayed for an initial examination and compared with one another.

Based on Polysun, Vela Solaris and the building technology association suissetec set up the building technology calculator web app. The association is now making the solution available to its members and customers, as stated in a message .

“With the building technology computer, we enable our customers to take the step towards the digital conception of energy systems”, Lars Kunath, responsible for digital solutions at suissetec, is quoted as saying. He also emphasizes the “reliability of the simulation results and the high level of professionalism of Vela Solaris as a development partner”.

“The cooperation with associations as well as manufacturers and dealers represents a real enrichment for Vela Solaris”, says Angela Krainer, Managing Director of Vela Solaris. “We always strive to make our solutions available to as large a user group as possible”.

October 2021
Partners want to bring hydrogen into the building sector

Romande Energie , GreenGT as well as the Nomads Foundation and the Realstone Group are joining forces to use local hydrogen in the energy supply of the real estate sector. As part of a project called Aurora, the French-speaking partners want to develop the necessary solutions.

Aurora is intended to cover various aspects of the production, distribution and use of hydrogen, according to a communication . The aim is to introduce integrated solutions such as water electrolysis or fuel cells into existing systems such as photovoltaics and battery storage.

The joint project should take several years. First the modeling, then the installation of the developed systems in several buildings is planned. After that, the developments are to be marketed.

The Nomads Foundation is a private, non-profit foundation that promotes multidisciplinary collaboration. GreenGT is active in hydrogen technology and also offers advice. The Realstone Group is a specialist in collective real estate investments. Romande Energie is an energy supplier that relies on renewable energies.

September 2021
Artwork produces solar power

Solar cells can also decorate buildings as objects of art. This is shown by a project that has now been implemented at the NEST research building of the Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt ( Empa ) and the EAWAG water research institute. The facades of the building have been fitted with photovoltaic modules, which together result in a work of art.

To this end, Empa implemented the project called Glasklar, on which it worked together with Zug Estates and students and lecturers from the two departments of Design & Art and Technology & Architecture at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. The latter designed photovoltaic modules in a two-week block event, which visually match the NEST building as design objects. The design was implemented by textile design student Lynn Balli. It was selected for use in the NEST building in an interdisciplinary design competition.

“If we can arouse the interest of designers in the design of building-integrated photovoltaic modules, we will make an important contribution to greater acceptance of photovoltaic facades and thus promote the expansion of renewable electricity production in Switzerland,” says Björn Niesen, NEST innovation manager Message from Empa quoted.

September 2021
Delta School relies on LEDcity

The Delta School in Zurich has brought the lighting in its classrooms up to date with the latest technology. The old luminaires were replaced by the energy-efficient, sensor-controlled lighting from LEDcity , informs LEDcity in a message .

As part of the Eco Schools project carried out by the school, the pupils were also involved in retrofitting the lighting. Yves Jungo from LEDcity, on the other hand, had to prove himself as a teacher: the customer advisor for the Zurich start-up company introduced the children and young people to the basics of electricity and lighting in two teaching units.

For LEDcity, the cooperation with the school is a role model, the message goes on to say. “If you can convey to children the importance of careful use of our resources – and especially of the ‘invisible’ resource of electricity – this contributes a lot to a greener future,” Jungo is quoted there as saying.

According to the company, users of the innovative lighting system saved up to 93 percent of energy costs compared to conventional lighting. To this end, LEDcity uses algorithms optimized by artificial intelligence, which control the light sources autonomously and as required.

In the Delta School, the students were able to calculate the actual energy savings themselves: the interaction of LED technology, algorithms and sensors reduces costs by 60 francs per year and lamp.

September 2021
Building the future of energy

The property right at the entrance to the municipality is less than 10 kilometers away from the city of Winterthur and is still an idyllic piece of land, with a direct connection to the banks of the Töss and with a view of meadows and forest. The goals of the Energy Strategy 2050 are being built here. The Verde Blu development has been inhabited since autumn 2019. So far, so normal. It is noteworthy, however, that this development covers a large proportion of its energy requirements itself and that exclusively from renewable sources. “The specifications of the Energy Strategy 2050 are an opportunity for the real estate industry,” explains Dieter Stutz from Atlantis AG, which is active in the areas of environmental consulting, settlement planning and architecture and who developed the project. The heat supply via groundwater was the best and most convincing solution for the area. Atlantis planned and implemented this complex construction project together with EKZ.

Sustainable living as a need
The new construction project Verde Blu with nine residential and commercial buildings comprises 108 condominiums as well as various commercial areas that are used by a Migros branch, a community and a physiotherapy practice, among other things. An old, listed barn serves as a common room and provides rustic charm on the site. In contrast to this is the state-of-the-art technology that supplies the system with energy: groundwater is used as a heat source for the heating and hot water, which supplies the houses with decentralized heat pumps via a so-called anergiering. An anergiering is a cold local heating system that, in contrast to conventional local heating systems, works with transfer temperatures below 30 degrees Celsius. Anergy networks therefore have no heat losses in the lines, but even generate additional energy gains from the ambient heat. In summer, the buildings can be passively cooled with the groundwater via the anergy ring.

A photovoltaic system, which is optimally designed to meet the needs of the building, provides the electrical energy for the building. The complex was only built after the apartments had already been occupied. Because they wanted to leave the decision for or against solar power to the owners. The fact that the system with a peak output of 100 kilowatts was approved by an overwhelming majority at the first owners’ meeting in winter 2019 speaks for itself. Martin Nicklas, who is responsible for modern energy solutions at EKZ, is not surprised: “In the real estate sector, we have long known the need to make a contribution to sustainability in the living area too.” A charging infrastructure for the 209 parking spaces was installed in the lower-level garage. Thanks to load curve management, it is possible to charge the cars in stages if a whole fleet of electric vehicles should one day populate the garage.

Well-coordinated system
In Kollbrunn, power generation as well as heating and cooling generation and electromobility are combined in an integrated energy system. The centerpiece is an intelligent control system that maximizes the self-consumption rate and takes over load management. In this way, what is actually the most important goal can be achieved: that the electricity produced by the PV system is also consumed as much as possible on site. The control uses weather forecasts from an external weather portal for this purpose. An algorithm in the control system evaluates this data and decides on the previous evening whether enough solar power will be produced the next day to charge the boiler and storage tank of the heating system. If the solar production is too low, the boilers are charged during the night at the low tariff, otherwise there is a wait until there is enough solar power available the next day to start the heat pump.

On-site energy production
The “Grand Chemin” development was built in Epalinges in western Switzerland, with some of the electricity required being produced on site by a photovoltaic system (PV). A new multi-family house is being built in Emmen (LU), which will be characterized by a heat pump with groundwater and a PV with ZEV. Two examples out of many that show that the future of energy has long since begun.

Comprehensive energy systems for your property

September 2021
Swissolar wants more sun in standard electricity

Around 5 percent of annual electricity consumption in Switzerland is currently covered by domestically produced solar electricity, explains Swissolar in a press release . In the standard electricity products of the energy suppliers, however, the proportion of solar electricity is only 1.85 percent on average. The Association of the Swiss Solar Energy Industry is working together with the power comparison service myNewEnergy to increase the solar proportion of standard products to this 5 percent in a first step.

“This value should be increased annually by at least the amount of additional construction in question,” Swissolar managing director David Stickelberger is quoted in the announcement. “Around 1 percent would correspond to the necessary expansion of photovoltaic systems.”

The majority of households do not choose a special electricity product and therefore receive the standard offer from the respective energy supplier, explains Swissolar in the press release. If the proportion of solar power in the standard product is increased to the proportion of power consumption, the comparatively expensive power is divided among a large number of consumers, argues Swissolar. This keeps the product price low and opens up new sales markets for providers of solar power who have been “sitting on their clean electricity” up to now.

“It is important that these certificates come exclusively from Swiss solar systems, because only such certificates make an effective contribution to a safe and clean power supply in our country,” explains Stickelberger. “To replace the nuclear power plant alone, we need 20 terawatt hours of solar power.”

September 2021
A new solar community is emerging in Glarus

The Technischen Betriebe Glarus ( tb.glarus ) are building a solar system on the roof of the gymnasium belonging to the Glarus Cantonal School. Private customers can buy their desired area of solar panels there and receive a fixed amount of solar power in return for 20 years.

By participating in such a solar community, tenants without their own roof also have the opportunity to subsidize locally generated solar power. Another advantage is that you don’t have to worry about investment costs, planning or maintenance, according to tb.glarus in a press release .

This emerging solar community is the third that tb.glarus is realizing. Two solar communities have already been successfully put into operation at the branch garden gym in Netstal GL. With its 666 square meters, the new facility will be almost twice as large as these two combined.

September 2021
Empa achieves record for flexible solar cells

The Empa team from the Laboratory for Thin Films and Photovoltaics , headed by Ayodhya N. Tiwari, has set its seventh record for the efficiency of flexible CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide) solar cells. After a record high efficiency of 12.8 percent in 1999, it has now reached 21.38 percent, according to a press release. This new record was confirmed by the independent Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems in Freiburg, Germany.

The value now measured is already close to the best efficiency of conventional, non-flexible solar cells made of crystalline silicon of 26.7 percent. The highly efficient flexible solar cells are particularly suitable for use on roofs and building facades, for greenhouses, transport vehicles, aircraft and portable electronics. Together with the Niederhasli ZH-based company Flisom , a spin-off from Empa and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich ( ETH ), the researchers are developing roll-to-roll production of lightweight, flexible solar modules for such applications.

These solar cells are produced on a polymer film using a low-temperature evaporation method. The light-absorbing semiconductor material lies on top as a wafer-thin film. Empa researcher Shiro Nishiwaki optimized their composition. In this way he was able to further increase the efficiency. According to the team’s measurements, the increase in photovoltaic output remained stable even after several months.

Tiwari’s team works closely with the Kovalenko Lab for Functional Inorganic Materials at ETH Zurich. The research and development work was supported by the Federal Office of Energy .

September 2021
Zurich is Switzerland's first green city

The city of Zurich accepted the Green City Switzerland award in gold on Thursday evening. As city councilor Richard Wolff said on this occasion, according to a press release , this seal is “both recognition and incentive. We are on the right track and know where we need to improve further ”.

In 2019, the city council commissioned the Green City Zurich service department of the civil engineering and waste disposal department to have the city of Zurich certified with the Green City Switzerland label. It is awarded by the Association of Swiss Urban Gardeners and Horticultural Offices according to uniform criteria. Not only core processes such as planning and construction, care and maintenance, but also management and support processes are assessed. Zurich received 451 out of a possible 500 points.

“This is an excellent result and a role model,” says Markus Weibel from the Label Commission. It shows that it “sets high standards and is made for both urban communities and the largest city in Switzerland”.

The team of experts particularly praised the “very good, long-term planning basis”, in which sustainable topics and biodiversity are given high priority. The binding basis for the near-natural maintenance and management of urban green and open spaces was also praised. In addition, the green spaces would be integrated to reduce heat.

September 2021
Switzerland has great potential for geothermal energy

Switzerland has considerable potential in the use of alternative energy sources such as geothermal energy and in the underground storage of CO2. This emerges from a press release from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne ( EPFL ). Professor Lyesse Laloui from the Faculty of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering ( ENAC ) at EPFL was head of the research group on geoenergy as part of the Innosuisse Energy funding program, which ran from 2013 to 2020. Eight competence centers have been set up. EPFL played a leading role in the field of geoenergy. Laloui is the author of the chapter on this in the final report of Innosuisse.

Lyesse Laloui sees great potential for the use of geothermal energy. The Swiss government has set the target for 2035 of generating 11 percent of the energy used for heating and cooling buildings from geothermal energy. Laloui assumes over 20 percent. “The project results show that this share could easily be doubled,” he is quoted in the communication. The possibilities of using geothermal energy to generate electricity were also examined. Laloui points out problems such as drilling deep without triggering seismic movements. “One day we will surely make it, but we are not there yet.”

According to the Lalouis report, there are good opportunities for the underground storage of CO2 emissions in Switzerland, especially in the Central Plateau from Friborg to Zurich. Professor Laloui is quoted as saying that of the around 40 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent that are emitted in Switzerland every year, around 12 million could be stored underground.

September 2021
Sto AG replaces crude oil with pine oil

Sto AG replaces a third of the binding agent in the coatings of its StoTherm AimS facade insulation system with a renewable raw material based on pine oil. This saves around 43 liters of crude oil in a single-family house with a facade area of 200 square meters, according to a press release.

A complete replacement of crude oil with pine oil was not possible. This would have had a negative effect on quality and durability.

According to a media release, StoTherm AimS is the only facade insulation system with under and top plasters and a facade paint that is partly based on renewable raw materials. It is certified with the German Blue Angel eco-label. In addition, it is crack and impact-proof and cannot burn. Therefore, it is also suitable for high-rise buildings.

September 2021
The first Swiss hydrogen hub is being built in the Rhine ports

The first Swiss hydrogen hub is to be built in the port areas of Birsfelden and Muttenz. According to a press release, four partner companies have agreed on this. Swiss Rhine ports , the energy company Varo , the filling station operator AVIA and the Basel energy supplier IWB have signed a joint declaration of intent for the construction of such a hydrogen node. As a green energy carrier, hydrogen will play an important role in the CO2-neutral future, according to the press release.

The four partners from the energy industry and logistics see the ports of Muttenz and Birsfelden as ideal locations for a hydrogen hub, according to the joint media release published by Varo. The H2-Hub Schweiz project should include the production, distribution and use of hydrogen. The plans envisage not only distributing the hydrogen with the existing infrastructure, but also producing, storing and making available the green energy on site. The tank storage company AVIA AG and the energy company Varo Energy Holding AG are already active in the Rhine ports.

IWB (Industrielle Werke Basel) produces and sells renewable and CO2-neutral energy as electricity, heating and cooling and for mobility. According to the announcement, IWB founded GreenH2 AG together with the petrol station operator and AVIA member company Fritz Meyer AG. The company is to build hydrogen production plants.

Applications of hydrogen will soon be tested in the H2 hub Switzerland as a fuel for trucks, trains, other road vehicles and ships.

August 2021
Empa proposes a plan for building renovation

The Dübendorfer Urban Energy Systems Laboratory of the Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt ( Empa ) has developed measures to reduce the greenhouse gases of the 1.8 million buildings in the country. The laboratory wants to show what the appropriate steps are and in which order they should be taken, it says in a message . The goal is a decisive reduction in CO2 emissions for heating and cooling in order to achieve Switzerland's net zero target by 2050. If the ecological renovation of the building stock progressed at the current pace, it would take another 100 years, Empa calculates.

Led by Kristine Orehounig, the researchers used data mining to divide all residential and commercial buildings in Switzerland into over 100 archetypes, depending on the year of construction, heating type, location and number of users. Then all of them were checked for their suitability for photovoltaics and connection to a heating network.

According to Empa, this sorting work has shown that it is worthwhile to start renovating the roofs and windows of older buildings particularly quickly. This should be followed by the renovation of heating systems in almost all house types. It is important to replace fossil fuels as quickly as possible with photovoltaics on roofs and facades. The research team recommends generating heat using heat pumps and biomass heating. "If the proposed measures are taken," believes Kristine Orehounig, "the greenhouse emissions in Switzerland's existing building stock can be reduced by 60 to 80 percent".

August 2021
3S Solar Plus inaugurates a new production line

3S Solar Plus AG opened a new production line at its location in Thun on August 20th. Several guests from business and politics attended the celebration – among them the Mayor of Thun, Raphael Lanz.

"With the ultra-modern line we are increasing our capacity and flexibility many times over", Patrick Hofer-Noser, owner and managing director of 3S Solar Plus, is quoted in a media release. The expansion is intended in particular to increase the delivery capability of various products for building-integrated photovoltaics. These are delivered to customers in Switzerland and other European countries.

3S Solar Plus specializes in the manufacture of building products that generate energy thanks to integrated solar technology. The company separated from the solar company Meyer Burger in 2018. Since then it has more than doubled the number of its employees.

August 2021
Canton of Zurich combats overheating of the settlement area

The canton of Zurich wants to reduce the heat load in the canton’s settlement areas. To this end, the canton is making a new website called Heat in the settlement area available, informs the canton administration in a message . The site offers an interactive tool with which the current climate situation for any area can be analyzed. The website also has recommendations and specific measures against overheating for any further development of the selected area.

In addition, examples of climate-adapted settlement development are presented on the new website. 18 possible measures are shown with which the climatic situation in urban planning, buildings and open spaces can be improved.

The canton also provides a digital application that can be used to examine and visualize measurement data on the air temperature from around 50 locations in the canton, explains the cantonal administration. For this purpose, the application is based on a measuring network operated by the cantonal office for waste, water, energy and air for two years. The digital tool is intended to contribute to a better analysis of heat waves and the effect of urban development measures on heat reduction.

August 2021
ESB promotes conversion to solar heating

At the beginning of the month, ESB launched a program to promote newly built solar thermal systems in Biel, the energy company informed in a press release . With this, ESB wants to support the Biel climate strategy, it is said there. In particular, ESB wants to contribute to the city's goal of becoming climate neutral by 2050.

For new buildings, a combination of gas heating and solar collectors is the standard solution for the requirements of the cantonal energy ordinance, writes ESB. The solar collectors could cover 60 to 70 percent of the hot water preparation and an additional 20 percent of the heating energy, writes ESB. According to the report, the greatest energy consumption in households occurs in these two areas.

With a thermal solar system, property owners “not only make a valuable contribution to climate protection, but also enjoy numerous advantages,” argues ESB. As such, lower costs for heating materials, tax deductions and subsidies as well as a comparatively low cost of maintaining the system are mentioned in the notification.

The ESB funding program provides for 250 francs per square meter of collector surface up to a total system size of 50 square meters. Anyone who installs a larger system can submit a request for additional support. ESB provides detailed information on the Internet .

August 2021
CKW buys Elektro Basilisk AG

CKW AG is growing in German-speaking Switzerland: the Lucerne-based specialist for integrated energy and building technology solutions has bought the Basel electrical company Elektro Basilisk AG . As CKW reports , with this targeted addition, it is optimally expanding its own portfolio. At the same time, it supports the strategy of expanding the building technology business, and especially solar. "Elektro Basilisk AG optimally complements the competencies within the CKW Group both geographically and thematically," Thomas Gisler, head of the electrical business unit at CKW, is quoted as saying.

The company Basilisk, founded in 1997, offers all services related to electrical and telematics installations, repair services and solar technology. Almost 40 employees work for the company. Like the managing directors, you will remain in the company.

According to its own information, the CKW Group supplies over 200,000 end customers in the cantons of Lucerne, Schwyz and Uri with electricity. It also offers products and services across Switzerland in the areas of IT infrastructure and communication, electrical engineering and energy technology. CKW employs more than 1900 people.

August 2021
Rheinfelden Solar puts third system into operation

The Rheinfelden Solar project will shortly put its third solar system into operation, AEW Energie informs in a press release . The system with a peak output of 110 kilowatts is being built as part of a roof renovation on the works yard and fire department store in Stein. A total of 290 modules will be installed here.

In the Rheinfelden Solar project, interested parties can support solar energy without having to set up their own solar system. Instead, they finance a system installed by Rheinfelden Solar with a one-time contribution per module. In return, those involved are credited with the electricity they have produced with the modules they finance over a period of 20 years in their own electricity bills.

The modules of the system in Stein are sold at the same conditions as those of the considerably larger second system from Rheinfelden Solar on the roof of the Swisslos logistics center in Rheinfelden. Interested parties can now order the desired number of modules online at a price of 560 francs each, explains AEW Energie. From the beginning of 2022, 240 kilowatt hours of electricity per purchased module should be credited to the electricity bill.

August 2021
Health center uses ecological heating center

The health center Dielsdorf relies on a sustainable heating technology solution. For this purpose, the Liechtenstein company Hoval has installed a heating center the size of a small single-family house on the roof of the facility , according to a press release . A solar system extends over the rest of the roof area.

“The large area offered itself for the use of solar energy. The entire system was lifted onto the roof using a crane, ”explains Edgar Stutz, Head of Technical Service at the Dielsdorf Health Center, in the press release. According to Heinz Hitz, technical sales consultant at Hoval, only around 30 systems of this size are put into operation in Switzerland each year.

The heart of the energy supply is a gas condensing boiler and the solar panels. There are two energy stores in the basement. When both storage tanks have reached the required temperature, the excess energy from the solar system is automatically transferred to an old part of the building. The system is supplemented by an oil condensing boiler, which is only used in the event of a fault.

Compared to conventional heating systems, the health center can save 120,000 kilowatt hours of energy with the new system, says Björn Zittra, Head of Sales Support at Hoval. “That corresponds to around 12,000 cubic meters of natural gas – or around 29 tons of CO2 per year,” he explains.

August 2021
New perovskite solar cells pass the lead test

A research group from the University of Life Sciences ( HLS ) of the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) gives the all-clear: their tests show that the lead contained in the new perovskite solar cells is just as little washed out as all other functional metals, even if there is any weather damage. The cells were able to withstand rainwater and hail tests without the metal concentration in the rainwater increasing noticeably.

The prerequisite for a low environmental risk is that the solar cells are packed according to commercial standards. But "even with poor packaging, only 5 to 10 percent of the total lead content in rainwater was measured over several months," HLS doctoral student Felix Schmidt is quoted in a report by the FHNW. “We currently see little cause for concern with regard to the possible environmental impacts of lead.” However, this sensitive topic must be communicated transparently with regard to the social acceptance of this technology.

Permoskite solar cells are considered to be the future of photovoltaics. Tremendous advances in research have increased their efficiency from initially 3 to almost 30 percent in the past few years. It is thus just above that of traditional silicon cells.

Perovskite is the collective term for new materials, the crystal structure of which is similar to the natural mineral, also known as perovskite. Perovskites absorb light particularly efficiently and conduct the electricity generated well. They are both inexpensive and easy to manufacture and process. Among other things, two national research programs are running in Switzerland. They are designed to encourage the rapid adoption of this disruptive technology.

Now you have to think about “what will happen to the solar cells at the end of their lifespan”, continues Schmidt. "That is why we are currently developing ways to completely extract lead from old cells and use it again in new cells."

August 2021
Emmi uses solar energy from Amstutz

Emmi and Amstutz Holzenergie AG are expanding their cooperation. According to a press release from Emmi, the products manufactured at Emmi's Emmen location, such as Aktifit or Lucerne cream cheese, will in future be produced using solar power from the roofs of the neighboring Amstutz AG. For twelve years now, 80 percent of the process energy required by Emmi has come from a wood chip plant on the Amstutz site. It feeds hot steam into the Emmi pipes via a pipeline.

Amstutz's 1,440 photovoltaic modules produce around 500,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. Amstutz uses around 200,000 kilowatt hours itself, while 300,000 are given to Emmi. "We are pleased that our neighbor Emmi has been relying on environmentally friendly 'wood steam' from our company for twelve years and that we can now use solar energy from our roofs to strengthen the partnership for a sustainable energy future", CEO Albert Amstutz is quoted as saying.

As the announcement goes on to say, the 25 or so Emmi operations in Switzerland are supplied with 100 percent electricity from European hydropower. In the future, the company wants to "significantly" increase the production of its own renewable electricity in the coming years. The roof of the new cheese dairy currently under construction in Emmen will also be equipped with photovoltaic elements.

August 2021
Meyer Burger wants to move solar roof tiles out of their niche

The solar company Meyer Burger wants to expand its product portfolio with innovative solar roof tiles. To do this, it acquires an already approved and certified solution from a German engineering service provider. With the purchase, all intellectual property and extensive specialist knowledge will become the property of Meyer Burger. No information is given on the purchase price.

With the acquisition, Meyer Burger does not only want to secure its own sustainable business development. Another goal is to increase the market demand for innovative roof tiles. "Integrated solar roof systems still represent a market niche today. With our innovative solar tile solution, we are planning to move roof-integrated solutions out of the niche into a larger market," explains Gunter Erfurt, CEO of Meyer Burger, in a press release .

Meyer Burger plans to launch its new solar roof in the second half of 2022. The solar tiles should be used, for example, in private roof systems with complete new or replacement roofing, objects in redevelopment and monument protection areas, houses with a limited roof load and aesthetically particularly demanding roof installations.

The group wants to present its solar roof at the Intersolar trade fair in Munich even before it is launched.

July 2021
University of Zurich relies on Winterthur water flow

Stadtwerk Winterthur has won the University of Zurich ( UZH ) as a new customer. In the corresponding tender, the UZH assumed electricity from renewable energies and opted for water electricity from the European Union, explains the city administration of Winterthur in a message . The municipal company will supply UZH with 69 gigawatt hours of electricity from hydropower annually from 2024 to 2028.

In addition, Stadtwerk Winterthur was able to win two more tenders from existing customers, the communication further explains. According to this, on the one hand, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich ( ETH ) will also receive sustainable water power from the Winterthur municipal utility in the years 2024 to 2028. Of the 110 gigawatt hours contractually agreed annually, 4 gigawatt hours should meet the strict ecological guidelines of naturemade star.

On the other hand, the Cantonal Hospital Winterthur will continue to receive electricity from hydropower from Stadtwerk Winterthur between 2024 and 2026. The corresponding contractual agreement includes the delivery of around 24 gigawatt hours of electricity annually, writes the city administration of Winterthur.

July 2021
Empa-Forschende entwickeln Energiesparriegel für Fenster

Forschende der Eidgenössischen Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt (Empa) haben eine neuartige Wärmedämmung für Fenster entwickelt. Laut Medienmitteilung ist der Dämmsteg eine Art Sandwich, mit einer umweltfreundlichen Füllung. Im Inneren befindet sich aus wiederverwerteten PET-Flaschen geformter Schaumstoff mit mikroskopisch kleinen Luftbläschen. Dieser sogenannte gefüllte Energiesparriegel für Fenster hat einen sehr hohen Wärmedämmwert.

Entwickelt wurde der Riegel von einem Empa-Team um Michel Barbezat und Giovanni Terrasi von der Abteilung Mechanical Systems Engineering zusammen mit Experten des Metallbauunternehmens Hochuli in Wigoltingen TG. Frank Hochuli hat für das Vorhaben eigens die Tochterfirma hochuli advanced gegründet. Hochuli bietet den Dämmsteg unter dem Markenzeichen Alpet an. Verglichen mit heutigen hochwertigen Ausführungen liesse sich die Wärmdämmung, etwa in einem neuen Bürogebäude, durchaus um bis zu einem Fünftel verbessern, wird Frank Hochuli zitiert.

Das neue Produkt ist von den Empa-Forschenden auf Verschleissfestigkeit bei Dauerbeanspruchung wie auf die Eigenschaften der Wärmedämmung geprüft worden. Eine weitere Prüfung des neuartigen Dämmstegs ist beim Prüfinstitut ift im bayerischen Rosenheim vorgenommen worden. Das ift gilt laut der Medienmitteilung in der Branche seit Jahrzehnten als Referenz. Die Fachleute dort setzten laut der Empa-Mitteilung die Prototypen auch Brandversuchen, Bruchtests und anderen Belastungen aus, wie auf nicht sichtbare Mikrorisse nach 1000-stündiger Lagerung in Öl oder leichter Säure oder nach starkem Zug in Querrichtung.

Nach Angaben von Frank Hochuli liegen offizielle Zertifizierungen zum Brandverhalten und zur statischen Belastbarkeit vor. Das Attest zur Wärmedämmung steht noch aus.

July 2021