This development not only meets the needs of singles, couples and families, but also takes into account the requirements of older people through special structural features. In realising the project, the focus is on both the quality of the construction and the use of sustainable materials, without losing sight of a fair price-performance ratio.
The design of the residential complex is based on modern architectural principles. It consists of five cloverleaf-shaped main buildings and a final building. This configuration forms a central courtyard that is ideal for communal activities. Star-shaped paths provide access to further green and leisure areas. The project accommodates a total of 81 residential units, the majority of which are for rent and 35 units for sale, including four luxury penthouses and two studios.
Away from the living spaces, the complex offers numerous amenities such as an underground car park with 96 parking spaces, bicycle and technical rooms and studios. But what makes this project stand out is its commitment to renewable energy. At its heart is an ice storage heating system that completely dispenses with fossil fuels. This innovative system utilises an underground water tank as an energy store, from which energy is generated by a heat pump. A solar air absorber optimises this process, making the project a pioneer in sustainable energy concepts.
Tag: Energie
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Sustainability meets quality of life in Spiez
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AEW Energie takes over 50 per cent of GA-Werkstatt.ch
GA-Werkstatt.ch (GAW) is now owned equally by AEW Energie AG and the previous sole owner, Rotkreuz-based Herzog Kull Group Holding(HKG). With their new joint venture, the partners want to meet the increased demand in the field of building management for commercial properties. As stated in a joint press release, they aim to take a holistic approach and assume the project management role of a general energy company or total energy company.
Both companies are convinced that a building will be an increasingly relevant element in the future energy system as a consumer, producer and store of energy. By working more closely together, they want to offer integrated energy solutions from a single source throughout the country.
The competences of the new partners will complement each other: HKG will gain expertise in the planning of medium and high-voltage systems, according to the press release. The collaboration will enable a holistic view of buildings and grids in all areas of target grid planning. By acquiring a stake in GAW, AEW is expanding its portfolio of grid and energy-related services to include building technology, thereby strengthening its position as a provider of integrated energy services for its customers. Its associated company Virtual Global Trading AG is contributing its digitalisation expertise.
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ABB invests 500 million euros in electrification
ABB and the European Investment Bank(EIB) have signed a financing agreement for a loan totalling 500 million euros, ABB announced in a press release. The Zurich-based technology company intends to use the funds to develop semiconductor-based circuit breakers, environmentally friendly switchgear and technologies to improve efficiency and automation in buildings. The funds will be channelled into corresponding research by ABB in Switzerland, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Finland, Norway, Poland and other European countries.
“Electrification is crucial in the fight against climate change,” EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle is quoted as saying in the press release. “With our loan to ABB, we are supporting a company with a long history of developing electrical products and a strong commitment to promoting practical solutions that make the European economy greener.”
The new power distribution solutions are intended for use in functional buildings, industrial operations and microgrids, for example. The development and commercialisation of technologies is a high priority in ABB’s growth strategy. Last year, the company invested around 1.67 billion dollars, or around 4 per cent of its consolidated sales, in research and development.
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Birstal heating network installs wood-fired boiler
The sustainable Birstal heating network has taken another step forward with the installation of the first wood-fired boilers. According to a press release, the project initiated by Primeo Energie from Münchenstein and uptownBasel has expanded the heating system on the uptownBasel site with the installation of the boilers. A heat pump is to be installed at a later stage. The wood-fired boilers are two biomass boilers with outputs of 8 and 11 megawatts. According to the press release, modern filter systems and technologies should lead to the lowest possible exhaust gas values. At a later date, the heating centre is expected to deliver an output of 40 megawatts, making it the largest plant operated by Primeo Energie in Switzerland.
The Birstal heating network consists of 25 heating plants and networks in Reinach, Arlesheim and Münchenstein. It is increasingly being converted to renewable energies. Part of the energy source will be waste heat from the uptownBasel area in Arlesheim, while biomass and wood from regional cultivation will also be burnt in cold seasons or during peak loads.
With the new energy centre and the Birstal heating network, Primeo Energie aims to make a contribution to the energy transition and to a sustainable heating and cooling supply in the region, the press release explains further.
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Heating network in Villmergen utilises local waste wood
On 16 November, AEW Energie AG celebrated the start of construction of the heating centre in the Villmerg industrial area with a ground-breaking ceremony. The heating centre will be built on the Cellpack Power Systems site. According to a press release, it will initially be equipped with a boiler for waste wood with a nominal output of 2,000 kilowatts and an oil-fired boiler for peak loads with a nominal output of 4,000 kilowatts.
The plant will supply heat for the first time at the end of 2024. It will replace around 710,000 cubic metres of natural gas and thus avoid the emission of 1500 tonnes of CO2. A further waste wood boiler with a nominal output of 4000 kilowatts is to be added in the final stage. This should also be able to supply other companies in the industrial area. The expansion of the heating network to neighbouring areas is being considered.
Most of the waste wood will come from untreated wood waste from the industrial estate and will be supplemented with wood from the region as required. The proportion of oil for the peak load should not exceed 10 per cent. A photovoltaic system will be installed on the roof and on two sides of the heating centre. This will achieve a peak output of 260 kilowatts.
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Energie 360° gets green light for solar façade
According to a press release,Energie 360° has been given the green light for its planned photovoltaic façade. With this and the planned solar installation on the roof, it will be able to convert its headquarters accordingly. The specialist for sustainable energy and mobility intends to cover around half of its annual electricity requirements itself.
Construction work began at the end of March 2023. After construction began, the canton of Zurich’s building insurance changed its authorisation policy for photovoltaic façades. Since then, proof has been required that a fire from the solar modules cannot spread over more than two storeys.
In the absence of a suitable testing facility in Switzerland, two fire tests were carried out at the Leipzig Materials Research and Testing Institute for the Construction Industry(MFPA Leipzig). They made it clear that steel sheets act as horizontal fire barriers between the individual modules. This construction fulfils the test criteria specified by the Association of Cantonal Fire Insurers.
“Energie 360° will be the first company to realise a PV façade under the new requirements,” CEO Jörg Wild is quoted as saying. “The photovoltaic systems will turn the headquarters in Altstetten into a green power plant.”
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Lake Thun WWTP clarifier gets solar roof
ARA Thunersee will also generate solar power in future. As decided by the delegates of the municipal association on 1 November, a solar folding roof is to be installed on the roof of the wastewater treatment basin. They decided to invest 12.4 million Swiss francs in the project, according to a press release. This should be amortised within 17 years.
The folding roof from the manufacturer dhp technology, based in Zizers, will have a solar module surface area of 23,000 square metres. This will make it the largest photovoltaic system at a Swiss wastewater treatment plant and one of the largest in the canton of Bern. It will have an output of 3,000 kilowatts peak and generate 3 gigawatt hours of electricity per year.
In addition, ARA Thunersee already produces 13 gigawatt hours of biomethane per year and feeds this into the natural gas grid of Energie Thun AG.
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Umwelt Arena shows special exhibition on solar power
The Umwelt Arena in Spreitenbach is presenting a special exhibition on solar power together with the electricity utility of the city of Zurich(ewz). According to the announcement, the special exhibition, which will be open all day from 3 November to 28 April 2024, will focus on the history of the development of solar power, the function and installation of solar power and the potential of the sun to generate electricity.
The ewz special exhibition shows the huge potential for climate-friendly solar power production that lies dormant on rooftops and how fundamentally uncomplicated it is to take action yourself to have a solar system installed, according to the press release. However, there are still reservations and outdated myths about the construction and utilisation of solar systems. The exhibition therefore sheds light on various aspects, including, for example, how a solar system and flat roof greening can ideally complement each other. On a journey of discovery, visitors are given information about the development of solar energy over the last few decades. They can also take part in a solar quiz.
The Umwelt Arena would like to point out that those particularly interested in the topic of solar power and visitor groups such as companies, clubs or schools can combine a visit to the special exhibition with a guided tour of the SonnenTrail. The possible uses of solar thermal energy and photovoltaics are presented.
According to the Umwelt Arena press release, guided tours must be booked in advance by telephone or online.
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Transitional document provides planning security for solar façades
Swissolar wants to create planning security for planning offices and building owners for photovoltaic (PV) installations on façades. As a first step, the association of the Swiss solar energy industry is presenting a transitional document for this purpose. The document “Planning and fire protection certification of rear-ventilated PV façades” was developed in collaboration with the Association of Cantonal Fire Insurers(VKF), the Bern and Zurich building insurance companies and a number of photovoltaic and fire protection experts, Swissolar explains in a press release.
The transitional document shows the conditions under which solar façades can be installed for mid-rise and high-rise buildings without a property-specific fire test. Swissolar explains that an argumentative verification procedure is now being used. It incorporates empirical values that could be derived from previous fire tests.
This interim document is intended to create planning certainty for solar façades until a state of the art paper (STP) is available. Swissolar intends to develop such an STP by autumn 2024 together with photovoltaic and fire protection experts and in consultation with the VKF.
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Aliunid turns Landis+Gyr electricity meters into real-time tachometers
Aliunid and Landis+Gyr have successfully tested the aliunid gateway for the Landis+Gyr E450 smart meter. Combined with an aliunid gateway, the smart meter becomes “a real-time electricity tachometer”, Landis+Gyr, provider of energy management solutions. said in a media release.
Founded in 2018, Brugg-based start-up aliunid is a digital energy provider, but without physical infrastructures. It provides its services using real-time data, connectivity and a platform based on the Internet of Things, as a white-label offering for energy suppliers, grid operators and energy producers.
With renewable energy available in varying quantities depending on the time of day or season and ever-increasing electricity consumption, the power grid needs to become more flexible in order to respond more quickly to fluctuations. Aliunid calls this a “breathing supply“. And this only works with real-time data, which even smart meters alone cannot provide. “We are very pleased that, thanks to the cooperation with Landis+Gyr, we will be able to offer a tested solution for the energy world of tomorrow in the future,” Aliunid CEO Dr David Thiel is quoted as saying.
“Landis+Gyr supports solution providers for real-time applications that build on existing smart meters and contribute to the Energy Strategy 2050,” explains Dr Christian Zaugg, Head of the Switzerland Business Unit at Landis+Gyr. “This creates additional added value for electricity consumers that goes beyond the primary purpose of automated energy metering and billing.”
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Viboo raises 1.5 million Swiss francs
Viboo has successfully completed a seed financing round. A total of 1.5 million was raised from investors High-Tech Gründerfonds, Swisscom Ventures and Rainmaking Impact, the spin-off of the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa) informs in a statement. “The round was oversubscribed, reflecting the strong investor confidence and interest in the company’s potential to decarbonise buildings,” it says.
Viboo has developed a platform for optimal energy use in buildings. The predictive-control-as-a-service platform works with self-learning algorithms that use weather and building data, as well as occupant preferences, to optimise indoor energy use. The funds raised in the financing round will be used to commercialise the platform. Here, viboo plans to focus on commercial buildings during the upcoming heating season.
“The platform and the algorithms are a real revolution for existing and also older buildings,” Gregor Haidl, Senior Investment Manager at High-Tech Gründerfonds, is quoted as saying in the announcement. “The results of the last heating season show that viboo can make a significant contribution to the decarbonisation of buildings.”
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LEDCity wins Green Business Award
LEDCity has won the Green Business Award 2023. The Zurich-based company, founded in 2017, has developed an intelligent lighting system that uses around 50 percent less energy than conventional LED lighting with motion sensors. This year, 28 applicants competed for the most important sustainability prize in Switzerland. In addition to LEDCity, Haelixa with its DNA marker for raw materials and namuk with its high-quality children’s outdoor label also reached the final, the organisers of the Green Business Award informed in a statement.
“LEDCity’s solution convinced us because it shows how we can use technology and artificial intelligence to tackle the challenges in the energy industry,” jury president Doris Leuthard is quoted as saying in the release. For LEDCity CEO Patrik Deuss, the award shows “that we are on the right track with our energy-saving and at the same time quickly amortisable lighting system”. In addition, the win underlines “our commitment to sustainable innovations”.
LEDCity uses up to five sensors per light source. In addition to brightness and movement, humidity, temperature and CO2 concentration are measured. The data obtained can be used, for example, by security systems or for planning cleaning work.
The Green Business Award is being presented for the fifth year by the cooperation Green Business Switzerland. It honours “solutions that combine ecological innovation with economic success”, according to the press release. Green Business Switzerland is made up of actors from business and environmental protection. The cooperation was initiated by the Swiss Environmental Foundation and the Go for Impact association.
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Waste incineration plant in Turgi to be renovated at a cost of 325 million Swiss francs
After 50 years of operation, the waste incineration plant in Turgi is to be renovated. According to a press release, the board of directors will propose a project credit of CHF 17 million at the next general meeting on 27 September. The total cost of the renovation is estimated at 325 million francs. According to the information, the necessity of a renewal is also reflected in increasing expenses for repairs and maintenance.
After a planning phase lasting several years, construction is not expected to begin until 2028. The new MWIP could then go into operation in 2033. The last renovation work on the plant was carried out in the 1990s.
In addition to the invitation to the general meeting, the MWIP has posteda collection of documents on its website, including the feasibility study for the projectand the detailed proposal by President Philippe Ramseier for the project planning loan.
According to these documents, the management and board of the MWIP have been working on the renewal of the outdated facilities since 2015. Cooperation with the neighbouring plants in Buchs AG and Dietikon ZH was examined. However, both rejected this. After the feasibility study of 2022, the MWIP board decided to locate the new plants on a neighbouring parcel of land belonging to the Abwasserverband Region Baden Wett ingen. This means that operations can continue during the renovation work.
The waste incineration plant in Turgi processes around 120,000 tonnes of waste per year. A moderate price increase is expected for the district heating generated from this waste because of the renovation costs.
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Heating control from Yuon Control saves 20 percent energy
The Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts has proven that the Yuon ONE heating control system from the start-up Yuon Control from Oberburg reduces the consumption of heating energy by an average of 20 per cent. Yuon Control and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts are working on a project to lay the foundations for efficient and intelligent control for heating systems, according to a media release. It is being funded by the Innosuisse Innovation Promotion Agency.
Yuon Control AG says it has developed Yuon ONE, a predictive, self-learning heating control system that helps to heat more intelligently and save costs. It is thus also able to optimise the utilisation in district heating networks.
The Assessment research group, led by Professor Dr Philipp Schütz at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts’ Competence Centre for Thermal Energy Storage, tested this in seven buildings in the Bern and Lucerne regions, ranging from only moderately insulated houses from the 1970s to modern Minergie houses. The heating was regulated alternately for a fortnight with the Yuon control device and with a traditional control device without optimisation. The test persons turned off the heating via the Yuon app during absences. This increased the savings to as much as 23 per cent, they say. At the same time, a reduction in CO2 emissions was observed in all building types.
According to the study, Yuon ONE is suitable for new and old buildings, regardless of the type of heating and the age of the building. Machine learning-based software takes into account the respective building characteristics such as thermal capacity, passive solar yields and tightness. “The innovation is that the system automatically learns the behaviour of the building, its thermal properties,” Dr Sebastian Hersberger, co-CEO of Yuon, is quoted as saying. In addition, the system incorporates the weather forecast from MeteoSwiss.
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Mobiliar invests in heat reduction in Bern neighbourhood
Mobiliar is contributing CHF 450,000 to a climate adaptation and upgrading project in the Breitenrain district of Bern. According to climate measurements by the University of Bern, this neighbourhood is hotter than average. According to a statement by the insurance company, the municipal council has approved a loan of 1.3 million francs for a corresponding redesign of Optingenstrasse. “With Mobiliar’s financial contribution, we can do more on Optingenstrasse than if the city had to finance the project alone,” municipal councillor Marieke Kruit is quoted as saying.
The plan is to plant 20 trees to combat heat accumulation and to unseal street and parking areas so that rainwater can seep away and cool the air through evaporation. To further enhance the neighbourhood, green or marl areas are to be created with bicycle stands or seating. The city is carrying out these climate adaptations as part of the renovation work of the energy supplier Energie Wasser Bern, which is planned for 2024 anyway.
“Our approach to natural hazards is not limited to paying for damage – we are also increasingly involved in prevention,” Thomas Trachsler of Mobiliar is quoted as saying. Belinda Walther Weger, Head of Public Affairs & Sustainability at the insurance company, emphasises that sponge city projects go beyond mere hazard prevention: “They help to ensure that the quality of life in densely populated areas remains high.” For this reason, Mobiliar from the cooperative will participate in further sponge city projects in Swiss cities as part of its support for climate protection projects. “With our commitment, we want to make an important contribution to a sustainable and positive future.”
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Axpo plans another alpine solar plant in Graubünden
Axpo Holding AG is planning to build another alpine solar plant in the municipality of Ilanz in the canton of Graubünden. According to a media release, the project, called Ovra Solara Camplauns, will also become a prime example of how nature, leisure activities and energy production can be combined. Thus, the area will continue to be usable as pasture land after completion. There will continue to be a corridor for the Abahrtspiste from the Crap Masegn mountain station to Ladir. And hiking and biking routes should also be able to be used without restrictions.
On an area of about 200,000 square metres, the plant with a peak output of 15 megawatt peak is to produce about 22 gigawatt hours of sustainable electricity per year. This corresponds to the average electricity consumption of more than 4,700 households.
“The partnership with the municipality of Ilanz/Glion for the Ovra Solara Camplauns’project marks another important step in our solar offensive,” Oliver Hugi, Head Solar Switzerland at Axpo, is quoted as saying. Axpo plans to implement around 4,200 solar projects in the mountains and on the Swiss Plateau by 2030. Other Axpo Alpine solar projects include Alpin Solar Ybrig in the canton of Schwyz and the two Graubünden projects Ovra Solara Magriel at the Disentis ski resort and NalpSolar at the Nalps reservoir.
According to the statement, commune president Marcus Beer sees the realisation of the project as a unique opportunity to generate long-term income for the commune’s coffers and to contribute to sustainable electricity security in Switzerland. The population of Ilanz has been informed about the project at an information event and will vote on the project in the coming months. If the vote is in favour, Axpo will be able to start construction of the plant in spring 2025 and partially commission it at the end of 2025.
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Parlament einigt sich bei Solarpflicht für Gebäude
Der Nationalrat entschied am Montag wie der Ständerat, auf Antrag einer Minderheit bei der Bereinigung des Energie-Mantelerlasses. Die Mehrheit der Kommission für Umwelt, Raumplanung und Energie (Urek-N) hatte indes auf der generellen Solarpflicht für Dächer und Fassaden bestanden, unterlag aber knapp.
Energieminister Albert Rösti hatte vor dieser Formulierung gewarnt und gemahnt, die Vorlage mehrheitsfähig zu halten. Noch nicht einig sind sich die Räte bei der Solarpflicht für Parkplätze. Der Nationalrat will sie für grosse Flächen, der Ständerat nicht. Er hat nun wieder das Wort zur Vorlage.
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Orientation for real estate and utilities in the complex energy sector
The ongoing digitalisation of the energy industry is being driven significantly by the integration of energy management systems (EMS). They use advanced measuring devices and sensors to monitor energy flows in the building and beyond in real time and make targeted optimisations. These systems play a crucial role in the transformation from centralised to decentralised energy supply. They also support grid operators in meeting the challenges of uneven energy generation, consumption fluctuations and the increasing electrification of heat and mobility.
The EMS market has experienced strong growth in recent years, but this has also led to increasing complexity. In this context, the comprehensive EMS market overview from EZS, provides an up-to-date orientation aid for Swiss users.
The comparison tool enables an initial evaluation of different EMS systems and thus supports both property owners and energy supply companies in making informed decisions. It offers a filter function, detailed provider information and the possibility to compare different systems with each other.
The new Energy and Electricity Supply Act, which is expected to come into force on 01.01.2025, provides, among other things, for the formation of local electricity communities as well as the exemption of electricity storage systems from grid fees. This will create new business models in which EMS will play an important role. The EMS market overview serves as a guide to prepare for these changes.
The market overview is available free of charge at www.ems-vergleich.ch.
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Ecospeed simplifies energy accounting for buildings
Ecospeed, the Zurich-based software developer specialising in environmental accounting, has integrated new functions into its software. According to a media release, these were developed as part of a relaunch of the Enercoach software and will be available to the company’s customers before the end of the year.
The software shows users the energy status of buildings and provides an accurate picture of the development of consumption, emissions and costs over a certain period of time. Until now, when calculating the consumption of electricity, heating oil, gas and district heating, the difficulty arose that the accounts did not follow the course of the calendar year. With the software renewal, this problem is to be solved and the calculation simplified.
“You simply enter the raw data in the corresponding mask, i.e. the current meter reading or the consumption value and the date of recording,” Thomas Herzberger, managing director of Ecospeed, is quoted as saying in the statement. “The software converts the values to the calendar year.”
Thus, an exact comparison including descriptive visualisation is possible. The data can be displayed in the form of tables, graphs and over a period of several years. Likewise, the effectiveness of improvement measures can be precisely determined.
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Demand for energy-efficient refurbishment programme continues to rise
With 425 million francs, the cantons have disbursed the highest amount since the building programme was established for renovation and new construction projects. in 2021, the amount of funding disbursed had still been 361 million francs, according to a media release.
Accordingly, the largest share of the amounts, 130 million francs, fell to building services projects. This corresponds to an increase of 31 percent over the previous year. In addition, 17,000 oil, gas and electric heating systems were replaced with the help of the subsidy programme, 86 per cent of which were replaced with heat pumps. in 2021, 12,500 had been replaced.
Thermal insulation projects were subsidised at a similar level as in 2021, with 128 million francs. 89.2 million francs were made available for system renovations, compared to 81.4 million in the previous year.
In 2022, more than twice as much as in 2021 was spent on central heating supply projects. Here, the subsidies increased from 11.9 to 25.9 million francs. Indirect measures in the areas of information and communication, education and quality assurance accounted for 17.6 million francs in 2022. in 2021, 15.9 million francs had been paid out for these.
At 592 million Swiss francs, the commitments of subsidies for energy-related measures that will be implemented and paid out over the next five years have also reached an all-time high. “This is a clear sign that more and more building owners want to renovate or build their properties in an energy-efficient and climate-effective way,” the media release states.
The Buildings Programme was launched in 2010 as an important pillar of Swiss energy and climate policy. Buildings account for around 44 percent of energy consumption in Switzerland and are responsible for one third of CO2 emissions.
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WWZ expands district heating business
The WWZ Group is observing rising demand for district heating and cooling. The corresponding business area increased its sales by 15 per cent year-on-year in the first half of 2023, the Zug-based energy, telecoms and water supplier informs in a statement. In the half year under review, the group was able to connect further properties to its Circulago and Ennetsee energy networks.
In the future, WWZ plans to further expand this promising business area. A feasibility study for a heating network has already been carried out in Steinhausen, and the group is currently working on a feasibility study with the municipality of Baar. Investments in district heating and district cooling did “temporarily lead to higher operating costs, but the investments will pay off in the medium term with stable cash flows”, writes WWZ.
In the first half of 2023, the expansion of the district heating and district cooling business also increased the company’s operating costs by almost 4 per cent. The operating result nevertheless increased by 27 per cent to CHF 13.6 million. The background to this is a year-on-year increase of 24 percent to 166.5 million Swiss francs in net revenues from deliveries and services. At 15.7 million Swiss francs, net profit was 8.4 million Swiss francs higher than in the first half of 2022.
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Coop and Energie 360° jointly expand charging network
The Basel-based Coop Cooperative and Zurich-based Energie 360° AG are continuing their cooperation in the construction of charging stations for electrically powered vehicles at Coop locations. According to a media release, they have equipped 120 Coop locations with 250 charging points since their cooperation began three years ago. By the end of 2026, the number is to increase to 200 locations.
Furthermore, more than 150 fast charging stations with capacities between 50 and 200 kilowatts are to be built. According to the information, the first one can already be found at a Coop branch in Dietlikon. Two more are planned in Winterthur Grüze and Rickenbach TG. There, too, customers will soon be able to charge their e-cars while they shop.
While the charging capacity can vary between 50 and 200 kilowatts due to different technical possibilities, the kilowatt hour at fast charging stations always costs 0.55 Swiss francs. At AC charging stations with 22 kilowatts of power, the price for a kilowatt hour is 0.29 Swiss francs, as before.
The existing 250 charging points are already very popular. “Following our successful experience, we are expanding our partnership with Energie 360°, increasing the density of the charging network, increasing the charging capacity and thus driving the switch to electromobility,” Martin Meister, energy expert at Coop, is quoted as saying in the media release.
The expansion is intended to advance electromobility and improve the charging experience for drivers of e-vehicles. “We are significantly increasing the number and density of charging stations,” Marcel Kobald, project manager at Energie 360°, is quoted as saying. “Drivers of electric cars throughout Switzerland will benefit from this
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Consortium brings solar folding roofs to motorway rest areas
The electricity producer Aventron from Münchenstein, BG Ingenieure und Berater from Lausanne, Cargo sous terrain(CST) from Basel and dhp technology from Zizers have founded the consortium ABCD-Horizon to install photovoltaic systems along motorways.
According to a media release, innovative photovoltaic systems will generate electricity at 45 motorway rest areas “in French-speaking Switzerland and the cantons of Valais and Bern”. This electricity will primarily be used for charging infrastructure along the motorways. The total output of the systems is said to be up to 35 megawatts. This amount could supply around 7800 households with an average annual electricity consumption of 4500 kilowatt hours.
The impetus for solar power production on unused areas of motorway service areas and noise barriers came from the Federal Roads Office(FEDRO), according to the press release. In a national tender, the Horizon folding solar roof from dhb Technology was awarded the contract for all motorway service stations in the French-speaking region of Switzerland and in the cantons of Valais and Bern.
The energy generated will reportedly be stored in existing charging points and batteries. The buyers of the surplus electricity are Aventron’s three main shareholders: Primeo Energie, Stadtwerke Winterthur and ewb, as well as CST, which also belongs to ABCD-Horizon.
According to the company, the Horizon folding solar roof is characterised by “an aesthetic lightweight construction with a rope-based support structure concept and a patented folding mechanism”. This allows for wide column spacing and great heights of up to 6 metres above the ground. It also has a weather algorithm so that energy can be generated even in winter. The construction phase is planned from 2024 to 2027.
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Implenia acquires stake in Norwegian wind power producer
Construction and real estate company Implenia has signed an investment and shareholder agreement with wind power producer WindWorks Jelsa, based in Jelsa in Norway. Implenia and NorSea each hold a 41 per cent stake in WindWorks Jelsa as minority shareholders, according to a media release.
The aim of the agreement is to develop a state-of-the-art facility for the production and assembly of large concrete and steel structures for floating wind turbines in the lakeside village of Jelsa. In addition to a production and assembly area of 800,000 square metres, warehouses, workshops and specially developed launching facilities and heavy-duty quays are to be built by 2032. Implenia is to contribute its experience in site design and planning, strategy and market development.
For Norway, wind energy generated on the high seas is of great importance as a future source of energy and as an export commodity. Wind power is also “expected to become the most important form of energy” throughout Europe. WindWorks Jelsa wants to build floating wind turbines with a total capacity of 1 gigawatt per year. This capacity can cover the annual electricity consumption of up to 4 million households.
With its commitment, Implenia aims to become a major player in this fast-growing market. “Floating offshore wind farms are an interesting new area in which Implenia can profitably apply its many years of experience and extensive expertise,” Christian Späth, Head Division Civil Engineering at Implenia, is quoted as saying in the media release. Implenia has committed to making two small investment tranches in 2023 and 2024.
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Canton Zurich identifies untapped potential for solar power
Falling prices for solar installations have fuelled the construction of new photovoltaic systems in the canton of Zurich, as an analysis by the cantonal statistics office shows. According to this, there were at least 12,600 active photovoltaic systems in the canton at the end of 2021. Almost all of them were installed after 2010, according to the data. They produced about 0.3 terawatt hours of solar electricity per year, which is roughly equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden.
Despite the increase in installations, the analysis finds that there is still a great deal of untapped potential for solar power. About half of all Zurich systems are installed on single-family homes. There is still a need to catch up with multi-family houses and buildings that are not used for residential purposes. The latter also offer space for larger systems with a higher installed capacity.
The analysis identifies further potential in new buildings. When the new cantonal energy law comes into force in September 2022, all new buildings will have to contribute to covering their electricity demand. It can therefore be assumed that new systems will be installed in the coming years.
The Canton of Zurich wants to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 – or by 2050 at the latest. Accordingly, according to its own information, it attaches great importance to the use of the existing potential for renewable electricity production. ce/ssp
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Project partners present alpine solar project ScuolSolar
The project partners for the alpine photovoltaic system in the Scuol Motta Naluns ski area want to take advantage of the opportunities arising from the Solar Express initiated by the federal government. For this reason, the municipality of Scuol and its civic community, together with EE Energia Eng iadina and Engadiner Kraftwerke AG from Zernez, are presenting their plans for the area surrounding these ski area facilities, more precisely in the Salaniva area. The public information event took place on 25 July.
The plant is to be used in particular for the production of renewable winter electricity. According to a media release, existing infrastructure will be used to a large extent for the transmission of the energy. Grazing on the land will continue to be possible.
The project partners have developed their plan within the framework of a project planning company in which all parties have a one-third share. According to the information provided, this shareholding and participation relationship will also apply to the further planning steps. Ultimately, ScuolSolar AG is to be formed. After the necessary approval of the population, the partners want to further develop “this important pioneering project for the Lower Engadine” with experts, then implement and finally operate it.
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Exista acquires Fabrimex for growth in high-end power supplies
Fehraltorf-basedExista has acquired Fabrimex, according to a media release. Both companies have been active for many years as developers of power supply solutions and are combining their expertise and product range. The merger will be retroactive to 1 January 2023.
Exista focuses on customised, high-quality power supplies, battery and LED system solutions for customers in industry, railway and medical technology. It has networks with partners and suppliers in Europe, the USA and Asia. With the merger, the owner-managed company, founded in 1988, is aiming for new growth. “Through the combination of customer and supplier relationships, the expanded product portfolio and the combined forces in sales, service and support, we are further expanding our leading position in high-quality power supplies and individual solutions,” Ernst Roth, Managing Director of Exista AG, is quoted as saying.
Fabrimex has been a provider of power supply solutions since 1947 and produces DC/DC converters, power supplies and inverters. In Switzerland, the company is present through trade brands: Glassman HighVoltage (high voltage supplies), FSP, EPSolar, Hoppecke and others. Fabrimex belonged to the international holding Werap since 2007 and until its takeover by Exista. Fabrimex is transferring its power supply business to Exista.
Both companies are headquartered in the Zurich Oberland and are to continue as independent companies after the acquisition. 100 percent of the shares in Fabrimex AG will go to Exista AG. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
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Expansion of photovoltaics to increase by 58 percent in 2022
Despite bottlenecks in skilled labor and blocked supply chains, 58 percent more photovoltaics were installed in 2022 compared to the previous year. Swissolar points to the figures now published by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy in a media release. According to the figures, solar modules with an output of 4.74 gigawatts were installed in Switzerland at the end of 2022. This covered almost 7 percent of Switzerland’s electricity demand over the course of the year. This production was equivalent to half of the Gösgen nuclear power plant.
This amount of solar power must be increased sevenfold in the next twelve years, according to the association: “With the overcoat decree currently being discussed by parliament, it must be possible to create the necessary framework conditions for this.” That is quite realistic, also with the help of the solar express law for the accelerated building of alpine plants. On suitable roofs and facades alone, 70 terawatt hours could be generated annually. That would be twice what the National Council and Council of States have set as a target for renewable energies by 2035.
Demand for battery storage has also more than doubled compared with the previous year. With the storage capacity of all the battery storage systems installed to date, 35,000 households could be supplied with electricity for a day, according to the data.
For the current year, Swissolar expects a photovoltaic expansion of 20 to 30 percent. This is expected to pick up further momentum from October 1 with the new vocational apprenticeships of Solar Installer:in EFZ and Solar Assembler:in EBA. “Now,” says Swissolar Managing Director Matthias Egli, “we need a clear signal from politicians that solar energy offers long-term career prospects.”
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Climate Fund Stadtwerk Winterthur supports two new projects
Since 2007, the Stadtwerk Winterthur climate fund has been supporting regional and local projects on the sustainable use of energy and climate protection. Two projects will now be funded with a total of 100,000 Swiss francs, the city of Winterthur informs in a press release. Both projects are spin-offs from Zurich universities.
Borobotics is working on increasing the efficiency of boreholes for heat pumps. The Grabowski drilling method from the spin-off of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences is designed to simplify and automate such drilling operations. In addition, Grabowski requires less space and energy than current drilling equipment. The climate fund’s grant of 80,000 Swiss francs will be used to develop and build a prototype.
Zürich Soft Robotics GmbH is taking an innovative approach to solar power production. The solar façade Solskin of the spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich is composed of many small and flexible photovoltaic elements. They can follow the position of the sun and, in combination, also shade the interior of the building. Zürich Soft Robotics GmbH will also use the grant of 20,000 Swiss francs to build a pilot system.
The Stadtwerk Winterthur climate fund raises its funds through voluntary contributions from the customers of Stadtwerk Winterthur. Participants pay a surcharge of 2 centimes on each kilowatt hour of electricity purchased.
Der Klimafonds Stadtwerk Winterthur spielt seine Mittel über freiwillige Beiträge aus der Kundschaft des Stadtwerks Winterthur ein. Teilnehmende zahlen dafür einen Aufpreis von 2 Rappen auf jede bezogen Kilowattstunde Strom.
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New Empa and Eawag campus takes shape
The Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa) and the ETH Domain’s water research institute, Eawag, are expanding their campus on the Empa site in Dübendorf, which will soon go into operation under the name co-operate, according to a media release. The architecture and design of the extension are conceived as a “signpost” for climate and environmentally friendly building and show approaches for less resource consumption and minimal CO2 emissions, for more circular economy through less material consumption as well as for gaining and saving energy, it says.
A attractive building has been erected near the entrance to the campus. The construction is a wood-concrete car park, which was realised by Implenia using a hybrid construction method. Instead of concrete ribbed ceilings, wooden beam ceilings were used over an area of 9300 square metres. As a result, the building requires considerably thinner concrete layers and reduces the consumption of cement, which is “harmful to the climate”.
According to Kevin Olas, head of Empa’s real estate division, lighting, electrical lines and sewage pipes had to be installed with consideration for the aesthetics of the hybrid construction. In addition, the modular construction method using prefabricated parts had to be used in view of climate change. This meant that parts of the building could be converted into workshops, for example.
In addition to building materials such as steel, concrete and wooden elements, human “raw materials” can also be recycled: urine, for example, is suitable as a raw material for fertiliser production because it contains the nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The urine collection system NoMix-WCs installed in the laboratory building creates the raw material for the recycled fertiliser Aurin. This is marketed by the Eawag spin-off Vuna.
Other building blocks on the campus include photovoltaics, recycled asphalt and no asphalt in the landscaping, which focuses on promoting biodiversity and provides for the planting of a diverse flora.
Source: empa.ch