immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Energiepolitik

  • Schlieren remains an Energy City Gold

    Schlieren remains an Energy City Gold

    Schlieren has been recognised as a Gold Energy City for the second time since 2021, as detailed in a press release from the city. The award is valid for four years. Schlieren has been recognised as an Energy City since 2008. “Being awarded the Energy City Gold label once again is a great honour and shows us that we are on the right path as a city,” said Beat Kilchenmann, City Councillor and Head of the Works, Utilities and Facilities Department, in the press release.

    The Energy City Gold label serves to recognise particularly ambitious energy and climate protection goals. The city cites the specific measures that were defined in various fields of action as part of the net-zero strategy adopted in 2023 with the target year 2040. These measures served as a programme of activities for recertification as an Energy City Gold. They include the expansion of the district heating network, the use of renewable energy in municipal properties and strengthening the circular economy.

  • Political roadmap to climate neutrality in Switzerland

    Political roadmap to climate neutrality in Switzerland

    POLIZERO’s final report takes an unusually clear look at Swiss climate policy. The next ten years are crucial for the economy, energy supply and society. The research team modeled numerous paths. The phase-out of fossil fuel technologies, a massive expansion of district heating and solar capacity and the rapid introduction of electromobility form the foundation for the net-zero target.

    A look at Europe shows that, especially in uncertain times, targeted harmonization with EU standards will become a success factor. In particular, integration into a common energy market and harmonized regulations strengthen security of supply and accelerate innovation.

    From strategy to scaling
    The window for far-reaching decisions is closing. From 2035, the focus will shift to scaling up climate-friendly technologies. Model calculations show that wind and bioenergy, synthetic fuels and CO₂ capture from industry and waste will take center stage. Switzerland can reduce its dependence on energy imports in winter and at the same time facilitate industrial change through investments and mandatory requirements, for example for the replacement of old heating systems.

    Support measures and innovation incentives act as start-up aid, but will be supplemented in a targeted manner by stricter regulatory instruments and the expansion of emissions trading. Steady but adaptable policies remain necessary to absorb geopolitical uncertainties and technological surprises.

    Flexible implementation, clear perspective
    The study recommends a balanced approach instead of radical individual steps. If Switzerland succeeds in combining its own credible initiatives with consistent EU coordination, the chances of achieving the net zero target are intact. It remains crucial that any strategy remains flexible. The faster world markets and research change, the more important adaptability becomes.

    Achieving climate neutrality does not require a perfect recipe, but rather a clearly defined direction and political perseverance. The decisive steps must be taken now. For a Switzerland that will help shape Europe in terms of climate protection and innovation.

  • Energy City strengthens climate policy with new certification standards

    Energy City strengthens climate policy with new certification standards

    The Energiestadt association wants to support its 644 member municipalities and cities on the path to climate neutrality in future. In 30 years of commitment, much of what was initially considered progressive has become the standard, writes Energiestadt in a corresponding press release. In order to continue to act as a pacesetter, certification and support for members should be consistently focussed on the net-zero target.

    The Energiestadt label recognises cities and municipalities for their sustainable energy and climate policy. In future, the certification process will place particular emphasis on net-zero relevant strategies and measures. The press release cites the phasing out of natural gas for heating and the promotion of electromobility as examples. To receive the highest accolade of Gold City, in future it will be necessary to prove that strategies and measures are being consistently pursued and are compatible with the net-zero target. At the same time, Energiestadt wants to simplify the certification process for smaller municipalities.

    “With the new instruments, Energiestadt is strengthening its role as a leading competence centre for local energy and climate policy in Switzerland,” said Maren Kornmann, Co-Managing Director of Energiestadt, in the press release. “Energiestadt is the only organisation to offer a comprehensive package for the planning, implementation and monitoring of net-zero measures at local level.”

  • Energy City Association focuses on net zero

    Energy City Association focuses on net zero

    The Energiestadt association wants to support its 644 member municipalities and cities in the future, particularly on the path to climate neutrality. In 30 years of commitment, much of what was initially considered progressive has been established as the standard, writes Energiestadt in a corresponding press release. In order to continue to act as a pacesetter, certification and support for members should be consistently geared towards the net-zero target.

    The Energiestadt label recognizes cities and municipalities for their sustainable energy and climate policy. In future, the certification process will place particular emphasis on net-zero relevant strategies and measures. The press release cites the phasing out of natural gas for heating and the promotion of electromobility as examples. In future, in order to receive the highest accolade of Gold City, it must be proven that strategies and measures are being consistently pursued and are compatible with the net-zero target. At the same time, Energiestadt wants to simplify the certification process for smaller municipalities.

    “With the new instruments, Energiestadt is strengthening its role as a leading competence center for local energy and climate policy in Switzerland,” said Maren Kornmann, Co-Managing Director of Energiestadt, in the press release. “Energiestadt is the only organization to offer a comprehensive package for the planning, implementation and monitoring of net-zero measures at local level.”

  • Schaffhausen rejects new Axpo contract

    Schaffhausen rejects new Axpo contract

    On August 18, a majority of 53.4 percent of Schaffhausen voters rejected the replacement of the old founding agreement of Nordostschweizer Kraftwerke (NOK) with a new Axpo shareholders’ agreement. The proposal failed in 16 of the 26 municipalities, including the city of Schaffhausen, Neuhausen, Beringen and Stein am Rhein.

    The voters thus went against their government and the cantonal council, which approved the new agreement by 52 votes to one, according to the voting magazine in January. They argued that the old NOK contract from 1914 was no longer appropriate for an internationally active group with around 7,000 employees.

    Opponents warned of a possible privatization of the energy producer. A majority of five contracting parties could decide on the sale of the company, provided they also held a majority of the voting rights. The canton of Schaffhausen currently holds 7.9 percent.

    The approval of all shareholders is required for the new shareholders’ agreement to be accepted. The other shareholders have already approved the agreement. The canton of Zurich and its cantonal utility EKZ are the largest shareholders with 18.3 and 18.4 percent respectively, followed by Aargau and its cantonal utility AEW with 14 percent each. St.Gallen and the two cantons of Appenzell hold a 12.5 percent stake via St.Gallisch-Appenzellische Kraftwerke(SAK), Thurgau holds 12.3 percent via EKT, Glarus 1.7 percent and Zug 0.9 percent.

  • Sustainable building follows cantonal regulations

    Sustainable building follows cantonal regulations

    Due to the constitutional responsibility of the cantons, there are different regulations in this area throughout Switzerland. For this reason, the Conference of Cantonal Energy Directors (EnDK) has adopted the Model Cantonal Energy Regulations (MuKEn) of 2014, which aim at the greatest possible harmonisation and thus simplification of construction planning and the corresponding approval procedures.

    We have analysed how close the implementation of selected cantonal sustainability regulations are according to MuKEn. The complete analysis can be downloaded here. The evaluation shows: Basel-City, Lucerne, Jura and Fribourg orient their energy legislation relatively closely to the model regulations and in some cases even go beyond them. At the other end are Aargau, Uri and Zug, where corresponding implementation is in the planning stage, and Solothurn, which will have the fewest regulations in the foreseeable future.

    The setting: cantonal responsibility, intercantonal coordination
    According to the Federal Constitution, energy policy in the building sector is the responsibility of the cantons. They are thus empowered to define and implement their own energy and climate policy goals within the framework of federal law.

    This allocation of tasks makes perfect sense: cantonal authorities are very familiar with the infrastructure, the population and the sensitivities of their region. They can thus plan and implement building law measures in an appropriate, efficient and broadly supported manner.

    However, the result is also a structure of different regimes with different characteristics and emphases. This sometimes causes confusion among real estate players operating on a supra-regional level. Since economies of scale are made more difficult, the federalist division of roles leads to efficiency losses.

    Politicians have also understood this. In the competent cantonal conferences, the responsible cantonal councillors and experts therefore develop and coordinate common energy and climate policy goals and strategies, which they laid down, for example, in the already mentioned MuKEn 2014.

    Detailed information at https://www.wuestpartner.com/ch-de/2023/03/24/nachhaltiges-bauen-folgt-kantonalen-regelungen/

  • The renovation rate for buildings is still too low

    The renovation rate for buildings is still too low

    In 2019, the federal and cantonal building program paid out around CHF 265 million in subsidies, a quarter more than in the previous year. This emerges from the 2019 annual report of the building program. This program is an important pillar of Swiss energy and climate policy. It is based on Article 34 of the CO2 Act .

    According to a press release from the building program, applicants received a total of around CHF 265 million in funding in 2019 (2018: CHF 211 million). Most of the funding last year went to thermal insulation projects with CHF 133 million. The greatest growth was recorded in subsidies for system renovations; they rose by 70 percent to 60 million francs. Solar and ventilation systems were funded with 35 million francs. 4,100 fossil fuel systems have been replaced with renewable energy heating systems, most commonly a heat pump.

    According to the announcement, the measures implemented in 2019 thanks to subsidies will save 5.4 billion kilowatt hours of electricity and 1.2 million tons of CO2 over their entire service life. But the renovation rate is too low to achieve the Swiss energy and climate targets for buildings. In order to offer a greater incentive, higher funding rates have been granted since 2019. This has reduced the effect achieved: While in 2018 159 francs were used per ton of CO2 saved, it was 205 francs in 2019. The increase in the more cost-intensive system renovations also reduced the effect per Swiss franc granted.

    The employment effect of the building program is positive: it is 2100 full-time equivalents and around 82 million francs of additional domestic added value.