immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: ErneuerbareEnergien

  • ewz should produce more renewable electricity

    ewz should produce more renewable electricity

    According to a press release , the city council of Zurich has applied for a third credit line of 200 million francs for the ewz. These funds are to flow into energy production facilities that produce electricity from renewable sources. The voters of the City of Zurich will ultimately decide whether this application will be approved.

    As stated in the communication, since 2007 voters have approved three credit lines for investments in the production of wind energy and other renewable sources. In total, the amount was 420 million francs. With this, ewz acquired 18 wind farms in Germany, France, Sweden and Norway through the wholly-owned subsidiary of the city of Zurich, ewz (Deutschland) GmbH. This means that the ewz now has around one terawatt hour of electricity from wind. This corresponds to the current ewz share from the electricity production of the Gösgen nuclear power plant.

    With the 200 million francs that have now been applied for, the ewz wants to expand primarily wind turbines and hydropower plants in Switzerland and other European countries. The ewz is aiming again to invest a third of the credit line in systems in Switzerland.

    The ewz Germany group is responsible for all purchases and financing abroad. The city of Zurich describes it as one of its most important holdings. The city council therefore requests the municipal council to create a legal basis for ewz (Deutschland) GmbH in a separate submission.

  • Energy companies want to promote the expansion of hydrogen

    Energy companies want to promote the expansion of hydrogen

    The association of Swiss H2 producers , newly founded on Thursday, wants to campaign for better local conditions for the production of green hydrogen. So far, seven energy companies belong to the association. "Together they will help the CO2-neutral hydrogen production in Switzerland to break through", it says in their press release.

    Important areas of application could be found in heavy haulage, as a replacement for diesel on non-electrified railway lines and in the chemical industry. Production is preferably carried out directly from a hydro or wind power plant. Because only if the electricity required for the production of hydrogen comes from renewable sources, it is CO2-neutral.

    While neighboring countries recognize hydrogen technology as an indispensable part of the energy transition and state funding for it accordingly, Switzerland is still having a hard time with it. "In addition, the production of hydrogen in Switzerland has so far only been possible at a limited number of locations," said Arthur Janssen, President of the new association and Head of Innovation and Strategy at the Basel energy supplier IWB , quoted in the press release.

    In addition to these regulatory hurdles, few actors had sufficient knowledge. That is why the association members want to support each other in the planning and construction of new production facilities. The association also wants to work closely with universities and research institutes.

    The founding members include: Elektrizitätswerk Altdorf, Oiken, St. Gallisch-Appenzellische Kraftwerke, Satom, SIG and the joint ventures Swiss H2 Generation AG (from ENGIE Services AG and Groupe E) and greenH2 (Fritz Meyer AG and IWB).

  • EIP organizes a capital increase in favor of renewable energies

    EIP organizes a capital increase in favor of renewable energies

    Energy Infrastructure Partners ( EIP ), formerly Credit Suisse Energy Infrastructure Partners, organized a capital increase of 530 million euros for BayWa re. A corresponding contract was signed on Tuesday, according to a press release from EIP and another from BayWa re. The transaction leads to a 49 percent stake in one of the world's leading developers, service providers, wholesalers and providers of solutions in the field of renewable energies. In addition, according to EIP, “considerable added value” can be expected.

    The Munich-based company claims to have a "very strong project pipeline" of photovoltaic systems and onshore wind systems with a capacity of 13 gigawatts in more than 20 countries, primarily in Europe, the USA and the Asia-Pacific region. BayWa re now wants to strategically develop into an independent electricity producer with a target capacity of initially 3 gigawatts by 2028, says the EIP announcement: “The partners intend to use additional capital over time to significantly expand their own renewable plant base . "

    "We are pleased about this unique opportunity for our investors to participate in a comprehensive global platform for renewable energies", Tim Marahrens, Co-Head of Origination & Transactions at EIP, is quoted in the press release. He underlined the importance of the transaction in view of the ongoing market consolidation in the industry.

  • Zurich architects receive the European Solar Prize

    Zurich architects receive the European Solar Prize

    In awarding this year's Eurosolar prizes, Eurosolar honored the Zurich company Felix Partner Architektur in the solar architecture category for realizing a project at Bergün GR. According to a press release, a 350-year-old Graubünden farmhouse in Latsch was converted into a modern zero-energy house through consistent use of solar energy. The historical substance was preserved.

    The European Solar Prize has been awarded by Eurosolar since 1994 for particularly eligible projects in the field of renewable energies. Eurosolar is the short form of European Association for Renewable Energies e. V. The association has its seat in Bonn. The winners in the categories of municipalities, solar architecture, industry, regional associations, mobility, media and education contribute with their outstanding projects to regenerative and decentralized energy supply in Europe, according to the media release.

    Eurosolar President Peter Droege is quoted as saying that the award-winning projects are perfect examples of the ongoing transformation of the energy system: "Today's award winners show how the world can become completely renewable."

    In addition to the award for the best project in the solar architecture category by the Swiss architects, other award winners are highlighted in the communication. Such an island community that owns, manages and maintains its own energy network that supplies all residents with renewable electricity. There is also a film director who raises awareness of the ecological and social effects of coal power. And also to a so-called social enterprise, which enables an independent and low-carbon energy supply with mobile biogas technology.

  • Trafigura invests in H2 Energy

    Trafigura invests in H2 Energy

    The Dutch commodity trading giant Trafigura , with a branch in Geneva, is investing heavily in the Zurich-based H2 Energy Holding . In a first step, the company has committed, according to its media release , to provide 62 million dollars. 20 million of this will flow into H2 Energie AG as a capital contribution. This is intended to support the development of the production, storage and distribution of green hydrogen for filling stations and industrial customers.

    Trafigura, one of the world’s largest traders in fossil fuels, will provide the remaining 40 million dollars to set up and finance a 50:50 joint venture, H2 Energy Europe, based in Zurich. It aims to bring green, hydrogen-based ecosystems to the markets. In addition, it will invest in hydrogen infrastructure and in projects that work with hydrogen throughout Europe, with the exception of Switzerland.

    H2 Energy has developed “a successful business model that is present in every part of the hydrogen value chain,” said Jeremy Weir, Executive Chairman and CEO of Trafigura, in the press release. “And by providing fuel cell solutions on a large scale, they have created a demand for hydrogen.” Now Trafigura will contribute its ability to further develop traditional supply chains and open up new markets.

    The joint focus is on the profitable decarbonization of various sectors, says H2 Energy boss Rolf Huber. “The joint venture with Trafigura will enable the partners to carry out the planned projects across Europe. In addition, it will enable us to further develop fuel cell applications for the transport sector on land and at sea, but also for stationary applications. “

  • New large storage system should help stabilize the network

    New large storage system should help stabilize the network

    CKW and Axpo are responding to the expansion of volatile renewable energies. In 2021 you will be implementing a battery storage system in Rathausen which, according to a CKW announcement , can be used for three different markets at the same time for the first time. On the one hand, the system can provide electricity when it is needed, thereby breaking the peak loads. On the other hand, it should help Swissgrid to keep the voltage in the grid stable. Ultimately, it helps to quickly balance out differences between the supply of electricity and demand at any time.

    The system consists of two large batteries, each weighing 50 tons, and each housed in a 12 meter long container. It has an output of 6.25 megawatts. That is enough to supply 15,000 households with electricity for one hour.

    The system will be installed from mid-2021 and integrated into CKW's medium-voltage network.

  • Switzerland must accelerate the energy transition

    Switzerland must accelerate the energy transition

    Switzerland has set itself less ambitious goals for the energy transition up to 2020 and is likely to achieve them. This is shown by the third monitoring report by the Federal Office of Energy ( SFOE ). After that, the new renewable energies achieved an electricity production of 4186 gigawatt hours in 2019. The SFOE writes in a press release that the target of 4400 gigawatt hours in 2020 is within reach. But if the guideline value of 11,400 gigawatt hours is to be achieved in 2035, the annual additions must amount to an average of 451 gigawatt hours, one and a half times as much as in the past decade.

    The final energy consumption per capita is similar: the reduction target of minus 16 percent by 2020 compared to 2000 was already achieved in 2016. By 2019, minus 19.1 percent was achieved. But if the benchmark for 2035 of minus 43 percent is to be achieved, then the average annual decline would have to be minus 2.2 percent. In the past decade it was only minus 1.4 percent.

    The Energy Perspectives 2050+ published at the same time by the SFOE came to the conclusion that if Switzerland continued with the existing practice, it would fall far short of its climate target in the long term. Switzerland has committed itself to reducing its CO2 emissions to net zero by 2050. But with a “keep it up” it comes to a reduction in CO2 emissions of 30 percent compared to 2020.

    However, the Energy Perspectives 2050+ assume that Switzerland can achieve its climate target with the technologies that are already available or currently being developed. The investment requirement would be only 8 percent higher than a continuation of the previous practice, according to a BFE announcement . If the current practice were retained, a total of CHF 1,400 billion would have to be invested in energy infrastructure, systems, devices and vehicles by 2050. If the net zero climate target is to be achieved, it would be a good 1,500 billion Swiss francs.

  • The first free space solar system from EKZ is on the grid

    The first free space solar system from EKZ is on the grid

    EKZ 's Algibicos solar power plant near the southern Spanish city of Murcia started operations on Tuesday, according to a media release . This means that the Zurich-based energy company's first large open-space solar power plant has gone online.

    On an area of 85 hectares, it will produce a little over 90 gigawatt hours of electricity per year. This corresponds to the annual consumption of more than 20,000 households. With over 300 days of fine weather, the area was one of the sunniest in all of Europe. In addition, the yield is increased by movable solar panels that are oriented towards the sun.

    "Compared to Swiss systems, around twice as much electrical energy can be generated," said Jean-Marc Degen, senior project manager at EKZ Renewables, in the press release. In addition, plants of this size are hardly feasible in Switzerland. The meanwhile low production costs and the sunny location enabled profitable operation, even without state feed-in tariffs.

  • Film about the Knonauer Amt energy region celebrates its premiere

    Film about the Knonauer Amt energy region celebrates its premiere

    The Knonau office is “ten years ahead of its time”, said Government Councilor Dr. Martin Neukom in August on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Knonauer Amt energy region. “A driving force for the energy transition,” said Andrew Darrell, a member of the New York Sustainability Advisory Board. He thought that the world should find out about this pilot project, writes the “Affolter Anzeiger”. Together with the Swiss Pro Evolution Foundation and WWF Switzerland , he initiated a film about the exemplary work of the Knonauer Amt energy region. It premiered on Thursday. Its title: ” Full of energy into the future – a region relies on renewables “.

    The film reports on the initiatives that the 14 communities in this region in the canton of Zurich have undertaken and are undertaking to curb climate change: the energy-saving house in Stallikon, where children can experience energy in a playful way, the planned solar power plant above the A4, the Circular economy of the biogas plant in Rickenbach, the above-average number of CO2-neutral wood district heating plants. In 2010 the municipalities integrated the key project Energy Region Knonauer Amt into the location promotion. Their goal is to generate 80 percent of their energy needs by 2050 themselves and with renewable energies.

    Numerous experts have their say in the film, including Andreas Fischlin, member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ( IPCC ) and professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich ( ETH ). “We have the same CO2 concentration as 3.5 million years ago,” he warns. At that time, there was a tropical flora and fauna in Switzerland. ETH professor Anton Gunzinger advocates greater use of local energies. That ensures more independence and that more money stays in the regional cycle: “We need more tax offices in Switzerland!”

  • Energy Lab aims to deliver innovations for the energy transition

    Energy Lab aims to deliver innovations for the energy transition

    The NTN Innovation Booster Energy Lab will officially start its work in January 2021. However, such a dynamic has already emerged that the first of a total of 50 planned projects have already been launched, writes the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences in a media release . They should lead to innovations in the efficient generation, storage and use of renewable energies that are also marketable.

    The consortium of over 200 members is strategically managed by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. In addition to the Central Switzerland Innovation Park and NEST – the research and innovation platform of the Federal Materials Testing and Research Institute and the water research institute of the ETH Domain – numerous other institutions, all Swiss universities of applied sciences and ETH Zurich . The Energy Lab is being funded by the Swiss innovation agency Innosuisse with CHF 1.5 million for an initial period of four years.

    More than 200 companies are already connected via the Central Switzerland Innovation Park, "and the trend is increasing", the message goes on to say: "Because the Energy Lab is an open network in which interested parties can contribute at any time."

    "The challenges are so complex that they can no longer be resolved with individual measures, but only in large-scale cooperation between industry, politics, science and society," the project manager and professor at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences, Ludger Fischer, is quoted in the communication . "The solutions will offer concrete added value for the economy and can therefore be implemented!"

  • Private individuals can participate in large solar systems

    Private individuals can participate in large solar systems

    Romande Energie customers can invest in their own solar systems without having their own roof. The Vaudois energy supplier wants to build a solar system totaling 1,700 square meters on Bertrand Pittet’s Petite Chamberonne farm in Etagnières, he writes in a press release . He enables his customers to participate. In return, the corresponding share of the production of solar power on the farm would be deducted from their private electricity bills.

    Romande Energie wants to attract a sufficiently large number of investors for its Jardin Solaire – sun garden – project by spring 2021. The plant should go into operation before summer.

    The Vaudois energy supplier launched a similar project in Mont-sur-Rolle in December 2019. There 37 private customers took part in the Jardin Solaire.

  • Erstfeldertal power plant produces its first electricity

    Erstfeldertal power plant produces its first electricity

    In the canton of Uri, a further 7200 households can be supplied with CO2-free electricity. The hydropower plant of the energy supplier EWA at the entrance to the Erstfeldertal started up on Thursday and produced electricity for the first time. "In two and a half years from the first approval step to commissioning is absolutely unique for a power plant of this size," the chairman of the EWA management, Werner Jauch, is quoted in a press release from the EWA.

    Before that, a wide variety of studies and projects had been developed for a good 100 years. “They all disappeared back into the drawer,” writes the EWA. And this project, too, “stood on a knife's edge several times”. Speed was now of the essence because in a month's time the national subsidy contributions to the power plant would have expired. That would have failed the project. “We believed it was feasible and we succeeded in putting the power plant into operation more than a month before the deadline,” said Jauch.

    Around 45 companies from Uri were involved in the construction, explains Peter Dittli, Vice President of the Board of Directors of KW Erstfeldertal AG . 75 percent of the total investment of 37 million francs remained in Uri as added value. In addition, there would be water interest and tax revenues. And finally, operation and maintenance also secured jobs. All of this is "particularly valuable in economically challenging times," said Jauch. "The corona pandemic shows us how important local production is when the international supply chains collapse very quickly."

  • Zürich erhält Goldauszeichnung als Energiestadt

    Zürich erhält Goldauszeichnung als Energiestadt

    Zürich ist im Rahmen des Hackathons Climathon Zürich erneut mit dem Energiestadt-Label in Gold ausgezeichnet worden. Damit fördert der Trägerverein Energiestadt die Umstellung auf erneuerbare Energien und Energieeffizienz. Laut einer Medienmitteilung der Stadt hätten der Ausbau der Photovoltaikanlagen auf stadteigenen Liegenschaften zu dieser Anerkennung ebenso beigetragen wie die Realisierung des Energieverbunds Altstetten und Höngg. Auch die neue Tramlinie Hardbrücke und die weitere Elektrifizierung des öffentlichen Verkehrs hätten ihren Anteil daran.

    Zum ersten Mal war Zürich die Auszeichnung als Energiestadt vor 20 Jahren verliehen worden. Seither seien die langfristigen Ziele der Stadt „kontinuierlich angepasst worden“. Dazu gehörten etwa die Verankerung der 2000-Watt-Gesellschaft in der Gemeindeordnung und die aktuellen Bestrebungen in Richtung Klimaneutralität. Grundlage dafür seien die im Masterplan Energie der Stadt Zürich definierten energiepolitischen Schwerpunkte.

  • Public transport should expand photovoltaics

    Public transport should expand photovoltaics

    Photovoltaics offers all public transport companies the opportunity to take a large part of their energy supply into their own hands. A new guide from the Federal Office of Transport refers to this. The authority developed it together with the Swiss Association for Solar Energy, Swissolar .

    As Swissolar writes in a summary of this guide, solar energy can make a decisive contribution to replacing non-renewable energies in public transport. The electricity consumption of all transport companies is currently around 2.7 terawatt hours. In addition, there are 120 million liters of diesel. If all public transport is to be operated in a CO2-neutral manner in the future, it will need around 3.5 terawatt hours of electricity. Of this, 2 terawatt hours, or 60 percent, would already be produced by the hydropower plants of the SBB .

    The production of the remaining 1.5 terawatt hours with solar energy would require around 1 square meter of photovoltaic module area per inhabitant in Switzerland. The same area per inhabitant provides the energy required to transport a person 2,500 kilometers by train in one year. As the Federal Office of Energy states in its energeia plus magazine, the potential for solar power in the Swiss transport company's building stock is 67 terawatt hours per year. That exceeds the total current Swiss electricity consumption by 10 percent.

    The guide advises small and large transport companies on investment opportunities and approval procedures for real estate, rail technology and infrastructure. He also goes into funding opportunities and personal consumption. It also provides specific official recommendations that support public transport in becoming climate-neutral.

  • Designwerk delivers the first electric garbage truck to Basel

    Designwerk delivers the first electric garbage truck to Basel

    Designwerk Products AG has made the first fully electric garbage truck available to the building and transport department of the canton of Basel-Stadt. In the first phase, Designwerk will deliver one vehicle to Basel “almost a week” according to its media release until the beginning of February. A total of eleven more garbage trucks are to follow.

    The first Basel e-truck, a Futuricum Collect 26E, is based on the Volvo FM chassis. It has four electric motors with an output of 680 hp. Its range is 160 kilometers. The batteries are charged overnight. Designwerk is cooperating with Contena-Ochsner AG for the construction of press waste. This is also operated electrically.

    The construction and transport department of the canton of Basel-Stadt is playing a pioneering role in electromobility across Switzerland, according to Designwerk. Within the next five years, 85 percent of cantonal vehicles are to be electric.

  • Climate Foundation Switzerland supports innovative projects

    Climate Foundation Switzerland supports innovative projects

    The Swiss Climate Foundation has distributed a total of 1.3 million francs in funding. Small and medium-sized companies that make a contribution to climate protection benefit from this financial support. A total of nine particularly innovative and five major projects for improving the energy efficiency of buildings receive funds from the Climate Foundation. “It is very important to us to promote such innovations more intensively”, their managing director Vincent Eckert is quoted in a press release .

    For example, the Ticino company iWin is now being supported with 50,000 francs. It produces windows with integrated photovoltaic blinds. In doing so, it transforms highly glazed buildings into solar power plants. The Zurich-based company Oxara is using the funding for the further development of cement-free concrete from loamy excavated material. FenX , based in Zurich, uses ash and other mineral waste to produce insulating foam for construction that is non-flammable and 100 percent recyclable. FenX receives CHF 200,000 for this.

    The supported projects also include the automated insect breeding solution from the Aargau company SmartBreed as well as the Ticino company Ponera . It develops shipping packaging for industrial goods, which is intended to create a circular economy for packaging material. Further funds will go to iWorks AG in Liechtenstein. It shows how public areas can be used to produce solar power.

  • Romande Energie is getting involved in French wind farms

    Romande Energie is getting involved in French wind farms

    Romande Energie France and the wind farm developer Calycé Développement have entered into a development partnership, according to a press release from the Valais energy supplier. Romande Energie is thus adding 15 wind farms to its portfolio for renewable energies in France. She takes high stakes in them. Most are still in the planning phase.

    The contract between the two companies provides for Romande Energie to acquire a 50 percent stake in six early-stage projects. She becomes the one hundred percent owner of seven late-stage projects. She takes on 80 percent of a secured project. Calycé Développement will manage all projects until they are ready for construction. Romande Energie buys 100 percent of a wind farm that is already in operation.

    Since 2013 the Romande Energie Group has acquired a number of hydro, solar and wind power plants in France. This added to its hydropower portfolio in western Switzerland. According to the company, these investments served to diversify both their locations and their energy sources. The transaction will be completed in the coming weeks.

  • Repower brings the largest Engadine solar system to the grid

    Repower brings the largest Engadine solar system to the grid

    A new wastewater treatment plant is being built in S-chanf. The Upper Engadine ARA is scheduled to start operations in mid-2021. Repower has installed a solar system with an area of 5800 square meters and 3447 solar modules on the roof of the system. The plant has an output of 1.1 megawatts and an expected annual output of 1.45 gigawatt hours. That corresponds to the consumption of 325 households, writes the Graubünden energy supplier in a press release . The system was designed in such a way that it can withstand heavy snowfall. The modules themselves have a total weight of 69 tons.

    The system has now been put into operation. Repower has invested 1.7 million francs.

    The ARA itself is operated with a combined heat and power unit. This means that electricity consumption on site can be optimized with the aim of using as much solar power as possible on site.

  • Riehen receives the green light for geothermal expansion

    Riehen receives the green light for geothermal expansion

    Riehen can continue with its planning for the expansion of another geothermal system. It would increase the number of residents supplied with climate-friendly thermal energy from the current 8,500 to 12,500. The referendum period expired at the end of October. The positive decision from the residents' council is now legally binding. This is now announced by Wärmeverbund Riehen AG ( WVR ).

    In the next step, seismic surveys to explore the subsurface for the geo2riehen project are due in summer 2021. A suitable location for the boreholes is thus sought. If the feasibility of the plant is confirmed, drilling could begin in 2023. They should open up more naturally occurring thermal water for heat utilization.

    An already existing feasibility study confirms that the project has “good prospects for success”. The drilling to promote the thermal water and the construction of the facility will cost around 20 million francs. The costs are shared between the two shareholders, the municipality of Riehen and the Basel energy supplier IWB . The Swiss Federal Office of Energy has promised a grant of 1.2 million francs and has announced a further 5.1 million francs.

    IWB's stake has risen from initially 27 to 50 percent. According to the WVR, this not only makes financing easier. The operation of the systems and the growing supply network can also be better coordinated with IWB: "The gradual and partial shutdown of the gas supply is thus optimally coordinated with the growth of the Riehen heating network."

  • Gotthard wind farm is officially inaugurated

    Gotthard wind farm is officially inaugurated

    The Parco eolico del San Gottardo has been officially inaugurated on the Gotthard Pass. It is currently the only wind farm under construction in Switzerland. It will start its regular operation in November. According to a press release by the operator Azienda Elettrica Ticinese ( AET ), “numerous restoration and soil remediation measures” are planned for the coming summer months.

    State Councilor Claudio Zali, Director of the Territorial Department, Airolo's Mayor Franco Pedrini, the General Director of Services Industriels de Genève ( SIG ), Christian Brunier, and the Director of AET, Roberto Pronini, symbolically put the plant into operation. There were also representatives from companies and institutions involved in the project.

    The summer months of the past two years were used for the construction phase. Commissioning was planned as early as autumn 2009. However, according to an article in the “Luzerner Zeitung”, those responsible at the time “admitted that they underestimated the effort involved in the project”. As a justification, the then Chairman of the Board of Directors cited Switzerland's lack of experience with wind farms.

    There are now five instead of the originally planned seven wind turbines on the Gotthard Pass. They were supplied by the German company Enercon . The annual production of these generators of 2.35 megawatts each is estimated at between 16 and 20 gigawatt hours, according to the announcement. They can cover the electricity demand in the Leventina valley between the south portals of the Gotthard tunnel near Airolo to Biasca.

    The investment of 32 million francs was supported by the shareholders of the Gotthard wind farm: AET holds 70 percent, SIG 25 percent and the municipality of Airolo 5 percent. The system receives subsidies from the fund for the cost ceiling feed-in remuneration ( KEV ) for renewable energies for 20 years. This is a federal instrument to promote renewable energies. It is financed by a consumer levy on the electricity price.

  • Clean charging current can also cost a little more

    Clean charging current can also cost a little more

    The research and development department of Juice Technology AG in Cham has published a current study on charging behavior and energy use in e-cars. A survey of 5154 e-car drivers was supposed to clarify how the behavior at the charging station is and what role the origin of the charging current plays.

    Almost 50 percent of the kilometers driven are charged at home, according to the press release , and around 22 percent at work. Only 17 percent of the charging processes are carried out at so-called super chargers or quick charging stations. For 85 percent of e-car drivers, the use of clean energy is very important or important, according to the report in the study.

    They also asked about their willingness to pay a higher amount for clean energy that would be produced in real time. 87 percent answered “yes”. There were differences in the amount: 60 percent would pay up to 4.89 cents per kilowatt hour more, 27 percent up to 3.01 cents per kilowatt hour.

    The survey took place online from October 12-14, 2020 in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. A total of 5154 people were interviewed. The response was 576 responses, of which 82 percent came from Germany, 12 percent from Switzerland and 6 percent from Austria.

  • Coop delivers with hydrogen trucks

    Coop delivers with hydrogen trucks

    In future, Coop will increasingly supply its sales outlets with hydrogen trucks. According to a media release on Wednesday, the food cooperative put one of the world's first mass-produced fuel cell electric trucks into operation. A total of seven of these will be in use by the end of the year. Because there are no other emissions besides water vapor, Coop is assuming potential savings of 80 tonnes of CO2 per truck per year. In addition, Coop is establishing additional hydrogen filling stations in Switzerland.

    As the message goes on to say, Coop is working together with the Swiss company H2 Energy AG and the Hyundai Motor Company . Hyundai is considered a world leader in the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology. The performance, refueling time and range of their hydrogen trucks are comparable to those of conventional trucks.

    Coop has set itself the goal of being CO2-neutral in the relevant areas of the company by 2023. This is why the food wholesaler and retailer is doing “pioneering work” for electromobility with green hydrogen. In 2018, the H2 Mobility Switzerland association was founded on the initiative of Coop. It includes seven large operators of petrol stations and truck fleets.

    "The H2 Mobility Switzerland association promotes clean, CO2-free motorized individual traffic in Switzerland and implements the technology of hydrogen mobility in road traffic on a private basis," says Jörg Ackermann, member of the Coop management and president of the association. The aim of the association is to create a nationwide network of hydrogen filling stations throughout Switzerland by 2023.

  • Madulain hydropower plant is back in operation

    Madulain hydropower plant is back in operation

    Repower has put the Madulain hydropower plant back into operation. According to a press release , the company invested around 2.3 million francs in its comprehensive renovation. Among other things, the control system, the control technology, the electrical installations and the entire medium-voltage switchgear were replaced. In addition, the turbine and generator had to be overhauled.

    The Madulain hydropower plant produces around six gigawatt hours of electricity annually. This corresponds to the average annual consumption of 1,300 households.

    The hydropower plant, built in 1903, was last renovated in 1980. It uses the tributary of the Ova d'Es-cha mountain stream on a slope of around 400 meters.

  • Wolkenkratzer sollen Solarstrom produzieren

    Wolkenkratzer sollen Solarstrom produzieren

    Gebäude gehören zu den grössten Energieverbrauchen. In Europa sind sie für ungefähr 40 Prozent des Stromverbrauchs und für 36 Prozent des CO2-Ausstosses verantwortlich, wie Venture Kick in einer Mitteilung schreibt. Insbesondere hohe verglaste Gebäude verbrauchen viel Energie. Im Sommer müssen sie aufgrund der grossen Fenster stark gekühlt und im Winter stark beheizt werden. Das Tessiner Jungunternehmen iWin will diesem Problem entgegenwirken.

    Die Firma arbeitet an einer Lösung, mit der vor allem grosse Gebäude mit Glasfassaden selbst erneuerbare Energie produzieren können. Konkret entwickelt sie spezielle Jalousien, welche als Photovoltaikanlage fungieren. Die zugrundeliegende Technologie wurde bereits an der Fachhochschule der italienischen Schweiz (SUPSI) validiert und zum Patent angemeldet.

    Die Jalousien von iWin sind den Angaben zufolge in einer Isolierglaseinheit versiegelt. Ein Vorteil der Lösung ist, dass sie nicht nur zur Energieproduktion dient, sondern gleichzeitig auch einen Licht- und Sonnenschutz bietet. Ausserdem stört sie die optische Erscheinung des Gebäudes nicht und kann auf einer grossen Fläche installiert werden.

    Mit seiner Entwicklung konnte das Start-up nun die Jury von Venture Kick überzeugen. Es gewinnt einen Förderbeitrag in der Höhe von 150’000 Franken. Damit will es die Entwicklung eines anwendungsfähigen Produkts vollenden, sodass es mit dem Verkauf starten kann.

  • Federal government specifies requirements for wind energy

    Federal government specifies requirements for wind energy

    "Since 2018, the Energy and Spatial Planning Act explicitly oblige the cantons to define areas in their structure plans that are suitable for the use of wind energy," the Federal Council explains in a press release . At its meeting on September 25th, it approved the necessary adjustments to the wind energy concept. All planning and project sponsors must orient themselves to this concept.

    In the wind energy concept, usage and protection interests are weighed up against each other. From this consideration, the federal government derives areas that it believes are suitable for the use of wind energy. The interests of the federal government in nature and landscape protection areas as well as military and civil technical systems of the federal government must be taken into account by the cantons when designating areas for the use of wind energy. The adapted concept stipulates that under certain conditions wind turbines can be erected in landscapes of national importance. In biotopes of national importance, however, the construction of wind turbines is excluded.

    The cantons continue to have the authority to determine the specific areas that come into question for the use of wind energy. In the structure plans already approved by the federal government for the cantons of Aargau, Basel-Landschaft, Bern, Freiburg, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, St.Gallen, Waadt and Wallis, more than 50 such areas have already been defined. In addition, the communication points to a number of wind energy projects that are already well advanced in the planning stage.

  • Primeo Energie is building a new heating center in Allschwil

    Primeo Energie is building a new heating center in Allschwil

    According to a media release , Primeo Energie is building a new underground heating center for the existing heating network between the indoor swimming pool and the music school in Neuallschwil. The foundation stone was officially laid on Wednesday. The system is operated with two wood-burning boilers with an output of 840 kilowatts each. In addition, a heat pump uses the environmental heat and waste heat from the indoor pool. This generates 80 percent of the energy required. The plant will go into operation in early summer 2021.

    "The community and Primeo Energie are setting another example for a renewable, CO2-neutral heating supply", said Nicole Nüssli-Kaiser, President of the City Council. "With this central heating system, we not only heat the school building, but also enable the entire district to rely on renewable thermal energy."

    This new heating center is another piece of the puzzle in the heating network, the message goes on to say. It will be connected by a pipeline to the heating network, which is also primarily fired with wood chips, at the old people's center at Bachgraben. This enabled synergies to be used between the two district heating networks. Further properties are to be connected to the network. By merging several centers, security of supply will also be increased.

  • The first industrial power-to-gas plant is built in Dietikon

    The first industrial power-to-gas plant is built in Dietikon

    The showcase project for the use of renewable energies is being developed in collaboration between eight energy suppliers and the Swisspower public utility alliance. The project aims to show how power-to-gas systems can complement renewable electricity production and operate economically, according to a media release . The largest power-to-gas plant in Switzerland to date will have an electrolysis capacity of 2.5 megawatts and will feed synthetic renewable gas into the grid from winter 2021 to 2022.

    The operating principle of the new plant is described in the communication as follows: “The power-to-gas plant uses renewable electricity from the waste incineration plant to produce hydrogen. This is mixed with the CO2 in the sewage gas, creating renewable methane gas. Limeco thus gains a CO2-neutral energy source from waste and wastewater. ”In the existing gas network, the renewable gas replaces fossil energy sources. According to the information, this can save 4,000 to 5,000 tons of CO2 annually.

    At the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction project, Stefano Kunz, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Limeco and City Councilor of Schlieren: "With waste recycling and wastewater treatment at the same location, we have the perfect conditions to produce green gas." Ronny Kaufmann, CEO of the Swisspower public utility alliance, which who co-initiated the project, says: "The project shows: We have to work together for a renewable and climate-neutral energy system, across company boundaries." The Federal Office of Energy ( SFOE ) is supporting the project as part of its pilot and demonstration program.

    Systems like the one being built in Dietikon are important for the implementation of the Energy Strategy 2050. The plan is to replace the electricity from nuclear power with solar, water and wind power. This means that much more electricity will be produced in the summer than consumed. In winter, on the other hand, when the energy demand is greater, Switzerland has to import electricity. Power-to-gas is a key technology for storing excess renewable electricity seasonally.

  • Agile Wind Power completes unique wind turbine

    Agile Wind Power completes unique wind turbine

    Dübendorfer Agile Wind Power AG has completed the construction of the first Vertical Sky wind turbine on the wind test field in Grevenbroich near Düsseldorf. Vertical Sky is the first wind turbine in the megawatt class with vertically mounted rotor blades. According to a press release, it is quiet, efficient and "unique in the world".

    In the coming weeks, the plant will gradually go into trial operation. During this time, various measurements that are required for certification are carried out. At the same time, electricity is produced. Vertical Sky wind turbines are environmentally friendly and can be installed in locations that are not suitable for conventional systems, such as close to residential areas, according to Agile Wind Power. Therefore, the tower is suitable for decentralized electricity production. In addition, birds and bats would recognize the vertically aligned rotor blades and not fall victim to them.

    The first product type has a nominal output of 750 kilowatts and is 105 meters high. Its rotor diameter is 32 meters. It is characterized by simple logistics concepts. "We are oriented towards the market and want to contribute to ensuring a safe and reliable supply of clean energy in the near future, regardless of finite energy sources", says the founder and CEO, Patrick Richter.

    The vertical sky rotor is going into series production on the former airport site in Lemwerder near Bremen. Access to international ports is an advantage of the location, according to the announcement. However, the Agile Wind Power research and development team will remain in Dübendorf.

  • Swiss electricity from the socket is 75 percent green

    Swiss electricity from the socket is 75 percent green

    In 2019, around 75 percent of the electricity from Swiss sockets came from renewable energies. This is evident from the data collected annually by the Federal Office of Energy ( SFOE ).

    According to a media release , the data published on Monday show that 66 percent of the electricity consumed comes from large-scale hydropower. 8.4 percent is generated by solar and wind energy as well as from small hydropower and biomass. In 2019, their share rose from 7.85 percent in the previous year to 8.4 percent. Around 95 percent of this was produced in Switzerland and a good three quarters were funded by the feed-in tariff system ( ESV ).

    Compared to the electricity actually supplied, the shares of renewable sources in Swiss electricity production are lower: 56 percent of the electricity produced in Switzerland comes from hydropower and 6 percent from new renewable energies. In this context, the SFOE points out that the Swiss Sockets not only supply electricity from Swiss production.

    19.1 percent of the delivery mix comes from nuclear energy (2018: 17.3 percent). The share in Switzerland's production mix is significantly higher at 35 percent, some of which is exported. Almost 2 percent in the Swiss delivery mix is obtained from waste and fossil fuels.

    The origin and composition of 4 percent of the electricity supplied cannot be verified. Since this so-called gray electricity is only permitted in exceptional cases from delivery year 2020, according to the SFOE, large consumers are apparently increasingly switching to domestic nuclear energy. Since most of the neighboring countries do not issue any guarantees of origin for electricity from conventional power plants, Switzerland has introduced replacement certificates. Coal electricity from abroad can be declared as such and no longer has to be summarized under gray electricity. This share of coal-fired electricity halved to half a percent between 2018 and 2019. However, electricity-intensive companies recently obtained replacement certificates for electricity from fossil and nuclear sources from European power plants.

  • EBL is investing up to 1.4 billion in the energy transition

    EBL is investing up to 1.4 billion in the energy transition

    EBL wants to drive the energy transition in Switzerland and Europe with large investments. As the Basel-based energy supplier announced , it wants to create EBL X Invest, a new investment vehicle for professional investors, in 2021. This is to be equipped with equity of 250 to 500 million euros. This should trigger investments of 700 million to 1.4 billion euros in wind, solar and water power in Switzerland and Europe.

    The new investment vehicle builds on EBL Wind Invest AG, which was founded in 2016 by EBL, institutional investors and pension funds. EBL Invest is said to have invested a total of 370 million euros in wind power plants in Germany by the end of 2020 with equity of 120 million euros. The plants are expected to generate 370 gigawatt hours of electricity per year.

    EBL also relies on renewable energies in its own company. 97 percent of the company's own vehicle fleet is to be converted to electric drives by 2030. 95 percent of the headquarters in Liestal are managed with renewable energies.