immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: CO2-Neutralität

  • Researchers analyse wood use in Switzerland

    Researchers analyse wood use in Switzerland

    Researchers from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology(Empa) and the Birmensdorf-based Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research(WSL) have analysed the use of wood as one of the most important raw materials on the path to a climate-neutral future. According to a press release, the analysis concludes that there is still considerable potential in Switzerland when it comes to the sustainable use of wood. For example, the recycling rate for wood is just under 8 per cent, compared to around 70 per cent for paper.

    “Of the five to seven million cubic metres of wood that we harvest in Switzerland every year, around 40 percent is used directly for energy – in other words, it is burned,” says the lead author of the study, Nadia Malinverno from Empa’s Technology and Society Laboratory. This is by no means ideal, as wood is used in a variety of ways, as raw wood, sawn timber, wood chips, wood fibres for the paper industry and much more.

    Switzerland has set itself the goal of net zero by 2050. Wood is one of the most important raw materials on the road to a climate-neutral future. It binds CO2 from the atmosphere as it grows and offers alternatives to fossil raw materials both as a material and as an energy source, according to the press release published by Empa and WSL. Many branches of industry want to increasingly rely on wood in the future, be it in construction, in the production of textiles and even in sectors such as electronics or pharmaceuticals and chemicals, it continues.

    The work was carried out as part of SCENE(Swiss Centre of Excellence on Net-Zero Emissions), an initiative of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich(ETH).

  • BKW acquires majority stake in HelveticWind

    BKW acquires majority stake in HelveticWind

    BKW has increased its stake in the HelveticWind cooperation to 60 per cent. The remaining 40 per cent will remain with Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich (EKZ). This strategic decision, which was signed on 5 July 2024, marks a significant realignment of the cooperation between the energy supply companies. Previously, BKW held 29 per cent and EKZ 20.2 per cent of the shares in HelveticWind.

    Successful cooperation in Germany and Italy
    HelveticWind operates a total of six wind farms, four of them in Germany with an installed capacity of 67 megawatts (MW) and two in Italy with 52 MW. BKW, which is already active as a service provider for the plants, has extensive expertise in the maintenance and optimisation of these wind farms. With the acquisition of the majority stake, BKW can further expand its existing portfolio of renewable energy generation plants.

    Future-oriented planning and CO2 neutrality by 2040
    Margarita Aleksieva, Head of Wind & Solar at BKW, is enthusiastic about the majority acquisition: “We want to help shape the energy transition in the coming decades and be CO2-neutral in the energy business by 2040. In this context, we are also examining the repowering potential of the six wind farms. Our aim is to optimise the existing sites in the future and increase our energy yield thanks to the latest technology.”

    Thanks to long-standing partners and outlook
    BKW would like to thank its departing partners Energie Wasser Bern, Genossenschaft Elektra Baselland and SN Erneuerbare Energie for their many years of collaboration. The reorganisation of the cooperation will enable BKW and EKZ to continue their partnership successfully and drive the energy transition forward together.

    History and objectives of the HelveticWind cooperation
    The HelveticWind cooperation was founded in March 2010 by Energie Wasser Bern and BKW. The original aim was to realise a wind power portfolio with an installed capacity of over 100 MW, which has since been exceeded. The German wind farms include Gross Welle, Lüdersdorf-Parstein, Sendenhorst and Wulkow, while the Ventisei and Eolo wind farms in Italy are part of the portfolio.

    With its majority stake in HelveticWind, BKW is strengthening its position in the field of renewable energies and taking an important step towards a sustainable energy future.

  • Aarau as a future cleantech pioneer

    Aarau as a future cleantech pioneer

    On 18 March 2024, AEW Energie AG held a co-creation workshop in partnership with the city of Aarau and other key players, which served as a platform for the development of sustainable technologies. This initiative, which was carried out in close collaboration with the Aarau Economic Development Agency and the Hightech Zentrum Aargau as well as companies such as Jura Management AG and Swisscleantech, underlines the common goal of transforming Aarau into an innovative cleantech location. The workshop focussed on the promotion of technologies for CO2 reduction and the use of renewable energy sources.

    The Mayor of Aarau, Dr Hanspeter Hilfiker, and Marc Ritter emphasised the importance of sustainable innovations and Aarau’s role as a pioneer in this area. The focus was on the development of cleantech solutions, particularly with regard to carbon capture and storage and the promotion of renewable energy sources. This approach reflects AEW’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality and promoting sustainable practices that offer both economic and environmental benefits.

    The workshop collaboration demonstrates the potential of collective efforts to solve complex sustainability challenges. The ideas generated will serve as a basis for future pilot projects that will further strengthen Aarau not only as an innovative but also as an attractive business location for companies and start-ups. This approach underlines the endeavour to promote cross-industry cooperation and develop innovative solutions for a sustainable future.