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  • New open space concept enhances quality of life and biodiversity

    New open space concept enhances quality of life and biodiversity

    According to a press release, Spreitenbach Municipal Council has adopted the open space concept. This establishes a legally binding framework for the future development of open spaces within the municipality’s built-up area. The aim is to safeguard and improve the quality and use of open and green spaces.

    The plan’s objectives include strengthening the identity of neighbourhoods, promoting biodiversity and enhancing climate resilience based on the ‘sponge city’ principle – rainwater runoff should be absorbed locally wherever possible.

    The plan also includes a catalogue of 21 specific measures. The first measures include the planning and implementation of Neumatt Park, the further development of the Ziegelei site, and the creation of temporary open spaces. Immediate measures are intended to improve the quality of the environment, whilst better signage will indicate the route connections. By the end of 2026, responsibilities are to be clarified, priorities set and initial measures prepared.

    The municipal assembly approved the commitment credit for the open space concept, amounting to 170,000 Swiss francs, on 28 November 2023. An interdisciplinary planning team subsequently developed the concept in collaboration with a broadly based steering group.

  • Start-up is driving the scaling up of CO2-to-raw-material solutions

    Start-up is driving the scaling up of CO2-to-raw-material solutions

    The Zurich-based start-up DeltaSpark has received funding of 150,000 Swiss francs from Venture Kick. The company plans to use the fresh capital to scale up its technology and carbon dioxide capture process, according to a statement from the Schlieren-based start-up accelerator.

    In this process, an electrocatalytic process is used to process a mixture of absorbed carbon dioxide and added minerals in such a way that hydrogen, oxygen and green sulphuric acid are produced. Much of the CO2 remains bound in the minerals, which can be used as building materials.

    DeltaSpark, a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), offers this technology as a service to major emitters such as cement factories or waste incineration plants. The CHF 150,000 now secured is intended to accelerate paid pilot projects and prepare for an upcoming seed funding round.

    “Venture Kick is far more than just funding,” Luc Bondaz, CEO of DeltaSpark, is quoted as saying in the press release. “Through targeted coaching, the programme has helped us refine our business plan for our target customer segments. This has enabled us to better understand our customers’ needs, clarify our value proposition and develop a clear go-to-market strategy.”

  • Winter electricity from the Alps is performing above average

    Winter electricity from the Alps is performing above average

    The Madrisa Solar power plant generated around 1.5 gigawatt hours of electricity during the first winter half-year, from October to March. This means that production exceeded expectations, as Repower AG states in a press release. During its first winter of operation, around 3,600 solar modules were in operation, which corresponds to approximately 20 per cent of the planned total capacity.

    The plant, which was the first alpine solar power plant in Switzerland to feed electricity into the grid, is located above Klosters at around 2,000 metres above sea level and is specifically designed for winter electricity production. Following the first snowfall, output rose by around 15 per cent thanks to the so-called albedo effect. The bifacial modules also utilise light reflected from the snow cover.

    The electricity generated is used, amongst other things, directly to power the Klosters-Madrisa mountain railways. In combination with existing installations, more energy was produced during the first winter than was required to operate the winter season. With its output to date, Madrisa Solar has comfortably met the minimum production requirement of 500 kilowatt-hours per installed kilowatt of capacity stipulated under the national Solarexpress scheme.

    The second construction phase is scheduled to begin in early May. Once completed, around 70 per cent of the plant is expected to be connected to the grid. Full commissioning is planned for the end of 2027. The developer of the alpine plant is Madrisa Solar AG, in which Repower, the Zurich Cantonal Electricity Works (EKZ) and the municipality of Klosters hold stakes.

  • Investment supports expansion of decentralised energy infrastructure

    Investment supports expansion of decentralised energy infrastructure

    Youdera Group SA has secured a strategic investment from Amundi Energy Transition. According to a statement, the funds will support the company’s next phase of growth and an implementation plan of around 150 million euros for decentralised energy infrastructure in the European commercial and industrial sector.

    Youdera offers companies energy management, which involves the planning and development, financing, construction and operation of energy systems. The aim is to reduce dependence on the electricity grid, make energy costs more predictable and drive electrification. The offering includes photovoltaic systems, battery storage, building envelope refurbishments, heat pumps and other measures to increase energy efficiency.

    The investment by Amundi Energy Transition, a subsidiary of French asset manager Amundi S.A., offers the opportunity to scale the model across Europe, says Pedro Miranda, CEO and co-founder of Youdera. “In a more volatile world, European companies need to act decisively to remain competitive.”

    Youdera was founded in 2015, is based in Ecublens and has its main site in the EPFL Innovation Park in Lausanne. Its core markets are Switzerland, Spain and Portugal, but the company sees further growth potential in Europe. “As commercial and industrial customers are looking for more resilient and cost-efficient energy solutions, we are convinced that Youdera is ideally positioned to meet this growing market demand,” says Claire Chabrier, Head of Direct Investments – Private Markets at Amundi.

  • Railway station heating plant switched to wood pellets

    Railway station heating plant switched to wood pellets

    Industrielle Werke Basel(IWB) is making progress with the decarbonisation of district heating. According to a press release, they tested the two new boilers of the wood pellet plant at the Bahnhof heating plant in March. With an output of 30 megawatts, it is expected to generate around 95 gigawatt hours of district heating per year.

    The switch from natural gas to wood pellets will save around 23,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. This corresponds to a 9 per cent reduction in total CO2 emissions from district heating in Basel. “With the new wood pellet plant, IWB is making an important contribution to the decarbonisation of district heating and to achieving the net-zero target of the Canton of Basel-Stadt,” said Evelyn Rubli, Head of the Heating Division, in the press release.

    The area surrounding the heating plant will be open to the public as a green space in future. The city gardening department plans to start landscaping it in the autumn.

    IWB wants to have completely converted its district heating to waste heat and renewable energy sources by 2035. The next step is to convert the Volta district heating power plant. IWB will also rely on large heat pumps in future. ProRheno’s Basel wastewater treatment plant is a possible location.

  • Dormakaba expands in the healthcare sector

    Dormakaba expands in the healthcare sector

    Dormakaba is focussing on further growth in the healthcare sector. The provider of access solutions has reported an increased number of orders from the healthcare sector for the 2025/2026 financial year. According to a press release, dormakaba has secured projects in Norway, Germany and the USA as part of its market entry strategy.

    The Rümlang-based company, which operates worldwide in the field of locking technology, offers solutions for doors, including locks, door fittings, door automation, access control systems and mechanical locking systems, which are reportedly sold in 130 countries.

    In Norway, dormakaba has received an order for 5500 doors as part of the new New Aker hospital project. In the USA, entrance systems are being modernised and maintained and other services provided on behalf of two organisations in the healthcare sector. And in Germany, dormakaba has received an order from the m&i clinic group Enzensberg, which includes access solutions for 4500 doors. The total order volume is in the low double-digit million range.

    “These latest project successes demonstrate the growing demand for secure, efficient and innovative access solutions,” said dormakaba CEO Till Reuter. “These orders further strengthen our position in the healthcare sector and support our growth in this sector.”

  • Beer, concrete and living – Baden builds on its history

    Beer, concrete and living – Baden builds on its history

    Four new buildings are being constructed on around 8,000 square meters directly next to Baden train station, divided into two construction sites. Building site A is the responsibility of Frei Architekten AG from Aarau, building site B is the responsibility of the renowned Harry Gugger Studio from Basel. The volume is considerable: 81,888 cubic meters of enclosed space, 22,914 square meters of floor space and an investment of around 64.5 million Swiss francs. The general contractor is Gross AG from Brugg.

    Living where malt used to steam
    136 rental apartments with 1.5 to 4.5 rooms are being built in the heart of the city. On the first floor, a total of 2268 square meters of retail and restaurant space will characterize the quarter. In the inner courtyard, a 900 square meter beer garden invites you to linger. The motto of the building owner, the fourth-generation brewery H. Müller AG, sums it up: “brew – live – enjoy”.

    History remains visible
    Not everything makes way for the new building. The boiler house, brewhouse and malt silo remain as architectural witnesses to a brewing history that began in 1897. The Müllerbräu beer itself is now produced by the Falken brewery in Schaffhausen. However, there is still a specialty brewery on the site. The site’s past thus not only remains visible, it can still be experienced.

    Timetable and marketing
    The building permit dates from October 2023, with demolition starting in April 2024. The facades of the new high-rise buildings have been visible for the first time for a few days now. A milestone for the project. Marketing of the apartments is scheduled to start in summer 2026, with first occupancy planned for June 2027.

  • Laufenburg builds windmills at the train station

    Laufenburg builds windmills at the train station

    The Schützegärte site is located in a sensitive urban location. Three streets surround it, and building typologies from different decades clash all around. It is precisely this chaos that is the theme. AWW Architekten AG makes the “contrasting and bilateral” the basis of the concept. The architecture emerges from the tension of the location, not against it.

    Offset, rotated, anchored
    Two identical, four-storey buildings form the ensemble. They are not parallel, but offset and rotated in relation to each other on the slightly sloping terrain. This positioning is not an aesthetic conceit, but a precise reaction to the formation of edges and the flow of space in relation to the neighboring buildings. An ensemble that blends in while remaining independent. The total floor area is around 4,600 square meters, the building volume around 13,800 cubic meters.

    Windmill as a residential model
    The architectural concept is based on a compact four-span “windmill” building shape with a central staircase core. The projecting wings characterize the façade and make reference to typical bay window shapes in the district. Each apartment is oriented on three sides. At the heart of the building are the “four-season rooms” with spacious rooms that can be used as conservatories, studios or living and dining areas. Together with loggias, this creates a flexible range of spaces for a wide variety of lifestyles.

    Green, communal, grounded
    The open space between the houses is deliberately kept low-threshold. Accessible from inside and from the street. A green layer of native shrubs and perennials protects the first floor apartments and gives the development character. At one corner, the area opens up to a meadow-like situation with fruit trees, a reference to the local tradition of orchards close to settlements. The project considers housing and community as a unit.

    Next steps open
    The town of Laufenburg was not involved in the planning process. Town clerk Marco Waser confirms that the building authorities only clarified the building regulations in advance. The town has not yet made an assessment. The landowner Erne Immo AG has not yet commented on the time horizon for implementation.

  • Zurich remains the world’s number one smart city

    Zurich remains the world’s number one smart city

    Zurich retains the top spot in the seventh edition of the IMD Smart City Index. Oslo is ranked second, ahead of Geneva, which, according to a statement, also occupies third place this year. Lausanne has climbed three places since 2025 to reach seventh place. For the index, the World Competitiveness Center (WCC) at IMD Business School surveyed citizens in a total of 148 cities.

    As the index showed, citizens also assess the quality of their city based on its political transparency and opportunities for participation. ‘Smartness’ therefore concerns not only the introduction of the latest technologies, but also a stronger perception of good urban governance and the implementation of digital services. According to the press release, cities where people feel they are being listened to perform significantly better.

    “The most progressive urban centres, where citizens feel happiest, are not necessarily those characterised by utopian skylines, visible sensor networks or pure technological sophistication,” Arturo Bris, Director of the WCC, is quoted as saying in the press release. “They are distinguished by how effectively they align administrative structures, sustainability priorities, decisions on public investment and – perhaps most importantly – citizens’ trust.”

    Behind Zurich, Oslo and Geneva, London, Copenhagen and Dubai rank fourth to sixth. Behind Lausanne, Canberra, Singapore and Abu Dhabi round off the top 10.

  • Hydropower project on the Grimsel enters the implementation phase

    Hydropower project on the Grimsel enters the implementation phase

    According to a press release, the Board of Directors of Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG (KWO), based in Innertkirchen, has approved an investment of 300 million Swiss francs in the construction of the new Grimsel 4 pumped-storage power station. The plant will enable the water from the two reservoirs, Räterichsboden and Grimsel, to be used to ensure grid stability. The concession and planning permission have already been granted.

    Grimsel 4 consists of an underground power station between the two lakes. Two reversible pump-turbines, each with a discharge capacity of 35 cubic metres per second and an installed capacity of 84 megawatts, pump water up into Lake Grimsel as required or use it to drive the turbines as it flows into Lake Räterichsboden. The water tunnel between the two lakes is around 1,200 metres long and has a diameter of 6 metres. The access tunnel to the power station is around 1,800 metres long.

    Construction will begin in June and is scheduled for completion in February 2032. Excavation work for the power station will commence in early 2028.

    KWO was founded in 1925. It currently operates 13 hydroelectric power stations and eight reservoirs. BKW holds a 50 per cent stake in the company. The municipal utilities of Basel (IWB), Bern (ewb) and Zurich (ewz) share the remaining half equally.

  • New partnership drives innovation in heat storage systems

    New partnership drives innovation in heat storage systems

    Cowa Thermal Solutions has announced its global partnership with Innova. Under the terms of the partnership, Innova, an Italian company based near Turin, will integrate Cowa’s phase-change material (PCM)-based thermal storage technology into its own heat pump systems. According to a statement from the spin-off of the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, founded in 2019 and based at Technopark Lucerne, this collaboration enables “a new generation of solutions that combine compact design, high comfort and sustainable technology”.

    According to the information provided, this cooperation builds on technical validations and assessments that have confirmed the suitability of Cowa’s PCM for Innova’s heat pump systems. According to Cowa, the tests demonstrated the high performance and efficiency of the integrated solution.

    Innova, for its part, is responsible for the design, development and manufacture of the systems. The Piedmont-based company specialises in modern solutions for heating, cooling, hot water and indoor air quality, and supports its global clientele in replacing fossil fuel heating systems with sustainable alternatives.

  • Succession planning launched at regional utility

    Succession planning launched at regional utility

    There is to be a change at the helm of Industriellen Betriebe Interlaken AG. According to a statement, CEO Helmut Perreten has informed the Board of Directors that he intends to step down from his role in mid-2027. He plans to pursue a career outside the energy sector thereafter.

    The search for a successor will begin in the coming months. The early announcement of the change will allow for a careful and structured succession plan, the statement said. The Board of Directors regrets but respects the decision.

    Perreten has been CEO of IBI since 2015. Prior to that, the trained mechanic and mechanical engineer was Head of the Oberland region at BKW Energie AG and, before that, Managing Director of the Grindelwald Electricity Works.

    In 2025, IBI sold a total of 96 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, 35.9 million kilowatt-hours of gas and 1.8 million cubic metres of water.

  • Experimental space showcases the future of retail

    Experimental space showcases the future of retail

    OF GOODS is set to become a “new space where production, trade and the public come together” in Bern, as stated in a press release. The trading house will open on 10 April across three floors of the Kaiserhaus. The organisers aim to create an experimental space with a view to realising a potential trading house of the future.

    As consumers are increasingly interested in the origin of materials and their life cycles, OF GOODS aims to provide context in this area. Open workshops and curated retail spaces contribute to this, as do accompanying formats. On the one hand, this brings craftsmanship to the fore, and on the other, customers can learn how to mend clothes or care for shoes at a do-it-yourself station.

    In addition, workshops, exhibitions and other events are held at the retail space. A variety of formats are designed to invite visitors to “rediscover materials, processes and ideas”.

    To date, more than 60 established and lesser-known brands, studios and manufacturers are among the suppliers at OF GOODS, which celebrates its opening on 10 and 11 April. Catering establishments such as Brasserie Kaiser, Kaiser Deli and Hof-Bar are also part of the concept.

  • Municipal energy supplier is systematically expanding its infrastructure and district heating network

    Municipal energy supplier is systematically expanding its infrastructure and district heating network

    The Zurich City Electricity Works generated turnover of 1.44 billion Swiss francs in 2025, according to a statement from ewz. This represents an increase of CHF 11 million year-on-year. Operating expenses rose by CHF 64 million to CHF 1.02 billion over the same period. This was driven by the integration of the district heating network of Entsorgung Recycling Zürich (ERZ-Fernwärme) and additional energy procurement. A profit of CHF 303 million was reported, compared with CHF 391 million in the previous year.

    “This strong result is primarily attributable to energy sales on the open market, a profit from the marketing of wind power production abroad and the targeted use of funds,” ewz Director Benedikt Loepfe is quoted as saying in the statement. “The successful integration of district heating, involving over 100 additional employees, impressively demonstrates our company’s adaptability.”

    In the reporting year, ewz also invested CHF 244 million in networks, power stations and shareholdings. That is CHF 48 million more than in the previous year, the energy supplier writes. “Capital requirements will rise massively over the next ten years so that the necessary investments of over CHF 3 billion can be made,” explains Loepfe. “ewz’s current strong financial position enables us to make these investments in the future of energy and security of supply in the coming years using our own funds.” CHF 80 million of this year’s profit will be transferred to the city.

  • Winterthur is turning to solar power from the local area

    Winterthur is turning to solar power from the local area

    Since the start of the year, residents of Winterthur have been able to sell their own solar power to their local community. To do so, they must register their solar installation with a local electricity community (LEG) run by Stadtwerk Winterthur. The municipal utility currently offers 155 such LEGs across the city, according to a statement from Winterthur City Council. This means that around seven in ten households in Winterthur have the opportunity to purchase solar power from their neighbourhood.

    Of the 2,500 photovoltaic systems installed across the city, 535 are currently registered with the 155 existing LEGs. Anyone wishing to register their own system or purchase electricity from an LEG can do so via the leghub.ch platform. It is also possible to set up your own LEG via the platform.

    The federal government is promoting the purchase of solar power from the neighbourhood by offering a discount on the grid usage component of the electricity price. The price of LEG solar power is therefore up to 15 per cent lower than the standard electricity price. In the press release, Stefan Fritschi, Head of Winterthur’s Department of Technical Services, highlights a further advantage of electricity communities: “LEGs also enable tenants and homeowners without their own system to access locally produced solar power”.

  • New construction project bolsters the research hub in the Bernese Oberland

    New construction project bolsters the research hub in the Bernese Oberland

    The cost of constructing the new Empa building on plot B5 of the Thun Nord site amounts to 47 million Swiss francs. According to a press release, a financing solution has now been put forward. The City of Thun states in a press release that the project will be financed through a new site development company to be established, in which four partners will hold stakes.

    Under the proposal, the City of Thun will provide a mortgage-backed, interest-free loan of 16 million Swiss francs. It will also provide a guarantee for a loan for which the Canton of Bern has issued a letter of intent under the New Regional Policy for 10 million Swiss francs. Empa is investing CHF 16 million in laboratories and the technical centre. Halter AG, as the development partner for the site, is contributing CHF 5 million. The site development company is to be transferred to investors once the project is completed.

    The Thun City Council will decide on the current proposal at its meeting on 30 April. Planning permission for the first phase on construction site B5 has already been granted. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2027, with completion expected by the end of 2029.

    “The City of Thun has a keen interest in the realisation of the new building,” Mayor Raphael Lanz is quoted as saying in the press release. “Empa secures long-term, highly skilled jobs in research and development, generates regional value creation and strengthens Thun as a technology and innovation hub within the Canton of Bern.”

    Empa has had a research site in Thun since 1994. Here, it conducts research in the fields of high technology and materials.

    A new district is taking shape in Thun Nord. Alongside the first concrete project on the B5 construction site, the planned Thun Nord S-Bahn station plays a central role. The total potential of the Thun Nord site encompasses around 6,500 jobs.

  • Former industrial site to be transformed into a mixed-use neighbourhood

    Former industrial site to be transformed into a mixed-use neighbourhood

    According to a press release, Halter AG has celebrated the topping-out ceremony at the Aebi site. The construction company, based in Schlieren, is developing extensive commercial, office and residential space on the site, with completion scheduled for early 2027. The ground-breaking ceremony took place in February 2025. The Aebi company manufactured agricultural machinery on the site until 2010. Burgdorf’s mayor, Stefan Berger, along with Marcel-Jann Blattert and Marc Weber from Halter AG, expressed their gratitude at the topping-out ceremony for the efforts of everyone involved.

    In total, the site will feature 26 owner-occupied and 79 rental apartments, as well as around 3,625 square metres of floor space for versatile commercial, office and retail premises. The usable space can be partly rented and partly purchased as freehold. According to the project description, the central location at the railway station and the proximity to Bern (ideal conditions for businesses) are particularly attractive to companies that value a strong presence, accessibility and a vibrant environment.

    Halter AG is a property and construction company operating throughout Switzerland. The company handles a construction volume of around 800 million Swiss francs per year across seven sites and currently has around 320 projects in development and under construction.

  • Start-up is driving the electrification of industrial processes

    Start-up is driving the electrification of industrial processes

    SolidWatts has announced the completion of a seed funding round. The Vaud-based start-up, founded in late 2022, has raised 1.8 million Swiss francs. According to a press release, existing investors Evercurios VC (Athens), Kickfund (Basel) and Axel Carbon Capital (Milan) have continued their support. New investors include Uni.Fund and Investing for Purpose, both based in Athens, Loggerhead Ventures from Thessaloniki, and the British investor Almanac Ventures.

    In developing his solid-state high-frequency platform, SolidWatts CTO and founder Dr Markus Aicheler, then a postdoctoral researcher at CERN, drew inspiration from the Geneva-based nuclear research centre’s pioneering work in high-frequency (HF) solid-state technology. Whilst CERN uses this technology for scientific applications, the scientist recognised its potential to replace fossil fuels in industry. HF enables high-power dielectric heating “with an efficiency and scale that make it suitable for direct use in conventional fossil fuel-based processes for the first time”, according to the start-up, which is supported by the Swiss Climate Foundation, in the press release.

    “This investment is a huge endorsement of our mission to fundamentally transform the industry’s energy consumption,” Aicheler is quoted as saying. “It enables us to bring HF technology up to the power and efficiency levels that the industry actually needs.” The seed funding will be used to scale up the SolidWatts platform to higher power levels and to carry out pilot projects with industry partners and customers who are actively seeking to reduce their energy consumption and costs through the electrification of heating processes.

    “SolidWatts is shaping the future of industrial resilience,” says George Georgiadis, partner at Evercurious VC and representative of the investor group. “Its technology boosts efficiency and offers a clear path away from dependence on fossil fuels.” The group is backing “an innovator founded in Europe and equipped for the world”.

  • The City of Biel believes it is on track to meet its climate targets despite the obstacles

    The City of Biel believes it is on track to meet its climate targets despite the obstacles

    In light of ongoing global warming, the City of Biel has been pursuing a comprehensive climate strategy since 2020. At that time, the City Council adopted the relevant climate regulations. Now, for the first time, the city has published a report taking stock of developments to date – with data-related delays of around two years.

    The key finding from the Department of Construction, Energy and the Environment is that Biel is essentially on track to meet its targets. Greenhouse gas emissions have fallen steadily in recent years and are currently slightly below the reduction pathway set out in the climate regulations. According to emissions monitoring, emissions in 2023 amounted to around 174,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents – a decrease of approximately 34 per cent compared to 2010. At the same time, the share of renewable energy in total energy consumption rose to 39 per cent.

    Looking to the future, however, it is emphasised that further reductions will be more challenging. Particular challenges exist in urban buildings as well as in the transport and heating sectors.

    Furthermore, emissions from transport and heating are falling only slowly. The share of electric vehicles, currently at 13 per cent, is set to rise. Moreover, many fossil fuel heating systems are still being installed, which, due to their long service life, jeopardise the achievement of climate neutrality by 2050.

    Against this backdrop, the city emphasises the central role of the public: the general consensus is that climate targets can only be achieved through their active engagement and the use of existing funding and advisory services.

  • Robotics in the construction industry is gaining in importance thanks to new investment

    Sika, the Baar-based specialist group, has invested in Mesh AG once again following its 2022 investment. The start-up Mesh specialises in robotic construction, reinforcement and formwork and, according to a statement from Sika, has completed a funding round totalling €2.9 million. Alongside Sika, participants included ABB Robotics and the Shimizu Corporation from Tokyo.

    MESH was founded in 2022 as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich. With partners such as Sika, Mesh developed the first robotic process between 2019 and 2021 that enables complex shapes to be produced without formwork. “In robot-assisted production, it doesn’t matter whether something is straight or curved: complexity comes at no extra cost,” explains Mesh CEO and co-founder Ammar Mirjan in an interview published by Sika. “This gives architects and building clients new creative freedoms.”

    According to Sika, over a million reinforcement elements have already been installed in Switzerland using Mesh technology. These solutions have been used in demanding large-scale projects such as the new Gotthard Road Tunnel, amongst others.

    “Through our investment in Mesh, we are investing in one of the world’s most innovative technologies for robot-assisted manufacturing in industrial series production,” Sika’s Head of Construction, Ivo Schädler, is quoted as saying in the press release. “Combined with our materials expertise, we are creating new opportunities for significant improvements in efficiency, quality and sustainability in the construction industry.”

    According to Ammar Mirjan, the partnership with Sika and other international industry leaders marks “a decisive turning point for Mesh on its journey from regional innovator to global technology provider”. He describes the funding round as a key milestone in driving growth by combining digital manufacturing with advanced material solutions “and jointly tapping into new business potential around the world”.

  • Trust company expands offering with industry software for construction SMEs

    Trust company expands offering with industry software for construction SMEs

    Gewerbe-Treuhand AG, based in Lucerne, is expanding its range of industry software. According to a press release, the company is now offering AbaBau software from Abacus Business Solutions AG for SMEs in the ancillary construction industry.

    The company in Thalwil ZH is a subsidiary of Abacus Research AG. It develops this specialised software with an expert team of 80 employees.

    As an Abacus partner, Gewerbe-Treuhand not only organises the distribution of the construction software, but also supports the SMEs that use it with the practical and process-optimising introduction and implementation in practice.

    Companies using the software also have the option of calling in their fiduciary partner in the event of staff shortages or temporary substitutions for administrative tasks, according to the press release.

    Gewerbe-Treuhand is already a sales partner of Abacus Research AG in 2019. The new partnership with Abacus Business Solutions builds on this collaboration.

  • Zurich Soft Robotics installs a Solskin façade on the KELLER Diamant building

    Zurich Soft Robotics installs a Solskin façade on the KELLER Diamant building

    Zurich Soft Robotics GmbH has deployed its Solskin technology on the KELLER Diamant building owned by KELLER Pressure AG in Winterthur, marking its largest façade project to date. A total of around 3,500 movable modules were installed, which adjust to the position of the sun. As Zurich Soft Robotics writes in a blog post, this can increase energy generation by up to 40 per cent compared to standard static solutions. At the same time, Solskin provides effective shading whilst maintaining natural light levels.

    The starting point for the project in Winterthur was the high level of solar radiation on the south-facing façade and the correspondingly increased cooling requirements within the building. The adaptive façade is designed to reduce energy consumption whilst improving working conditions.

    Installation was modular and relatively quick: individual units could be fitted in less than an hour. With this project, the company demonstrates that the technology can also be implemented on an industrial scale.

    Zurich Soft Robotics GmbH was founded in 2022 as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) and is based at Technopark Zurich.

  • Strategic reorientation with a focus on energy and technology

    Strategic reorientation with a focus on energy and technology

    BKW is announcing a change in its Group Executive Board: On 1 April this year, Margarita Aleksieva will take over from Philipp Hänggi as Head of the Energy Production business area, the Bern-based energy supplier announced in a press release. At the same time, Aleksieva will join the BKW Group Executive Board. The designated Head of Business Area is currently Head of the Wind & Solar business unit at BKW.

    “Renewable energy production is very close to my heart”, Aleksieva is quoted as saying in the press release. “I am therefore all the more pleased to be able to play an active role in shaping the energy transition on the BKW Group Executive Board.” Before joining BKW, Aleksieva held “various management positions at international energy companies”, including Alpiq, according to the press release.

    Philipp Hänggi, who joined BKW in 2014, is stepping down from the Group Executive Board after six years as Head of Energy Production. According to the press release, he intends to focus on strategic tasks in the future, particularly in the areas of nuclear energy and radioactive waste disposal, and “increasingly devote himself to topics relating to artificial intelligence”. Hänggi was already involved in the design and utilisation of artificial intelligence at BKW during his time on the Group Executive Board.

  • Largest solar power plant in the canton of Zurich goes into operation

    Largest solar power plant in the canton of Zurich goes into operation

    According to EKZ, the largest solar power plant in the canton of Zurich has come into operation on the roofs of the Embraport logistics centre. Since mid-March, 9,500 solar panels have been generating electricity across a roof area of around 20,000 square metres, with a total output of up to 4.5 megawatts, EKZ states in a press release. The plant is expected to produce around 4 gigawatt hours of solar power annually.

    “We are proud that we have transformed unused roof space here into the largest solar power plant in the canton of Zurich within just a few months,” Paul Sidler, Head of Renewable Energy at EKZ, is quoted as saying in the press release. “This strengthens security of supply with local, sustainable electricity.” EKZ has realised the plant as part of its solar contracting model. Under this arrangement, Zürcher Freilager AG, as the owner and operator of Embraport, merely provides the roof space. EKZ is responsible for planning, financing, construction, operation and maintenance.

    Around half of the solar power generated at Embraport is to be consumed directly within the logistics centre itself. “Our tenants benefit from CO2-free energy, which they can purchase on attractive terms, thereby making their businesses more sustainable,” says Jean-Claude Maissen, CEO of Zürcher Freilager AG, in the press release. EKZ will offer the other half to its own customers.

    The system is also set to be expanded later this year. EKZ plans to install further modules with a total capacity of around 1 megawatt on the new buildings currently under construction on the site. A large-scale battery with a capacity of 2 megawatt-hours is also planned.

  • New CEO to drive strategic development

    New CEO to drive strategic development

    The Board of Directors of Repower AG, based in Brusio, Graubünden, has appointed Michael Roth as its new CEO. According to a press release, he will take up the post on 1 June 2026, succeeding Roland Leuenberger, who is moving to the energy producer Axpo.

    Roth has headed Repower’s Production & Grid division since 2022. Prior to this, the 51-year-old spent nine years as Director of Engadiner Kraftwerke and ten years at the City of Zurich Electricity Works (ewz). “In recent years, he has demonstrated leadership, strategic insight and strong operational expertise at Repower,” said Barbara Janom Steiner, Chair of the Board of Directors.

    The CEO-designate lives in the Engadin, holds a degree in electrical engineering from ETH Zurich and has a Master’s degree in business law from the University of St. Gallen. “I look forward to further developing Repower together with our employees during this important phase,” he is quoted as saying.

    A successor is being sought to head the Production & Grid division; the process has already been initiated.

  • Aargau Verkehr is relying on its own electricity supply for its electric buses

    Aargau Verkehr is relying on its own electricity supply for its electric buses

    Aargau Verkehr AG (AVA), in collaboration with energy services provider AEW Energie AG (AEW), has installed a photovoltaic system on the site of the bus depot in Fahrwangen. According to a press release, the system was commissioned in March. From October, it is expected to be fully operational and to generate some of the charging power required for the electric buses that will be based there in future.

    The investment in the solar system itself amounts to around 100,000 Swiss francs. The electrical infrastructure and grid connection for the solar system and the charging infrastructure cost a further 60,000 Swiss francs.

    “The system is an important step towards self-sufficiency in electricity,” Mathias Grünenfelder is quoted as saying in the press release. “Even though we will only be able to make full use of the solar power with the new vehicles from 2026 onwards, the decision was clear: electricity demand is rising – and we want to meet it as sustainably as possible,” said the Deputy CEO and Head of Major Projects at Aargau Verkehr AG.

  • Lake Zurich to heat university campus

    Lake Zurich to heat university campus

    Energie 360° will implement the University Campus Energy Network. From 2037, the University Hospital of Zurich, the University of Zurich, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich and Zurich Stadelhofen railway station are to be heated and cooled using energy from Lake Zurich, according to a statement from the Zurich-based energy supplier. According to the statement, Energie 360° is investing around 40 million Swiss francs in the energy network.

    The project involves the construction of a lake water plant in the Tiefenbrunnen area. Construction of the plant is scheduled to begin in summer 2034. From there, the lake water will be channelled via the planned second Riesbach tunnel of the SBB to Zurich Stadelhofen station and the university campus. The water will then flow into the Limmat.

    “The lake serves as an energy source for climate-friendly air conditioning and heating in the university district,” Energie 360° CEO Romeo Deplazes is quoted as saying in the press release. “In this way, we are making an important contribution to the transformation of the city of Zurich from fossil fuels to renewables.”

  • Expansion of the district heating network strengthens the energy supply in Baden and Ennetbaden

    Expansion of the district heating network strengthens the energy supply in Baden and Ennetbaden

    According to a press release, Regionalwerke AG Baden is set to expand its district heating network. Construction work is set to begin in the coming months. With targeted development between Sonnenbergstrasse, Postplatz and Schlösslistrasse, a further step towards a climate-friendly heating supply will be taken. The energy supplier and the local council aim to gradually replace fossil fuels and sustainably increase energy efficiency, thereby strengthening the local infrastructure and making Ennetbaden a more attractive, forward-looking place to live.

    The connection of the municipality is to take place in two construction phases. The first phase is scheduled from 20 April to 7 June and concerns the Schiefe Brücke and the bridgeheads in Baden and Ennetbaden. The second phase of development, expected to run from 8 June to 31 October, will take place along Sonnenbergstrasse. During the construction period, there may be temporary changes to traffic routing and diversions for bus services.

    The municipality of Ennetbaden, Regionalwerke AG Baden, Regionalen Verkehrsbetriebe Baden-Wettingen, and specialist departments of the City of Baden and the Canton of Aargau have collaborated on the planning of the construction works and the traffic management plan. The heat supply is scheduled to commence this coming winter.

  • The outlet in Landquart is set to be significantly expanded

    The outlet in Landquart is set to be significantly expanded

    Walo Bertschinger AG, based in Dietikon, is involved in the expansion of the Landquart Fashion Outlet. According to a press release, the shopping centre, which has a village-like atmosphere, is being expanded by 5,000 square metres to accommodate 14 new shops, a new restaurant and a four-storey car park. Walo is responsible for the various paving and surfacing works. The new section of the Fashion Outlet is scheduled to open in April 2026.

    According to Walo, a total of 12,900 square metres of base course and 2,600 tonnes of surfacing will be used in the underground car park and outdoor areas. In the outdoor area, 900 metres of kerbs will also be laid and 67 manhole covers installed. The bus stop will also be paved with heavy-duty paving stones over an area of 630 square metres.

    The central design element is the “high-quality paving of the pedestrian zone in the mall area, which characterises the centre’s alpine village design”, according to Walo’s press release. There, the company is laying 150 square metres of row paving, 200 square metres of edging slabs made of Onsernone granite, and 1,500 square metres of porphyry slabs.

  • New housing concept combines independence with support services

    New housing concept combines independence with support services

    bonacasa AG is implementing one of its residential building management solutions for the first time in French-speaking Switzerland, in collaboration with the Vaud-based pension fund vitems and the Bern-based turnkey contractor Losinger Marazzi. The three partners have developed the Arbora estate in Crissier, comprising 63 accessible flats for older people, which is currently under construction and will be ready for occupancy in September 2026.

    According to a statement from bonacasa, no residential complex was originally planned for this site. However, thanks to the bonacasa living concept, “a satisfactory contractual solution was found in collaboration with the authorities and the owner”. Bonacasa living is one of five operational solutions offered by the Oensingen-based company. Each of these includes a basic package featuring a 24-hour emergency call system, access to a service centre and an app.

    Building on this, offers and services from the other four modules – such as an on-site social concierge available every weekday, weekly entertainment and activities, sports and health programmes, and à la carte services – can be added, as can structural adaptations in line with bonacasa’s so-called Smart Building Standards.

    According to the information provided, the new bonacasa living concept is already being implemented at other locations in Switzerland and demonstrates that age-appropriate living does not necessarily mean a care home, but can also work within the standard housing market. “Many people want to continue living independently in their own homes as they get older,” says Ivo Bracher, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “Our approach combines modern living with flexibly bookable services, thereby creating a solution that works for residents as well as for property partners and local authorities.”

    Bonacasa is one of five finalists in the Prix SVC Aargau Solothurn, which is being held for the first time this year. This means that Switzerland’s ninth most important economic region now has its own awards ceremony. The award will be presented by the SME network Swiss Venture Club (SVC) from Stettlen, Bern, on 6 April 2026 at the Emil Frey Classic Center in Safenwil, Aargau, to outstanding and forward-looking companies.