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Tag: Forschungscampus

  • Successful expansion of the “co-operate” research campus in Dübendorf

    Successful expansion of the “co-operate” research campus in Dübendorf

    The expansion of the research campus in Dübendorf, which took place from 2021 to 2024, includes a state-of-the-art laboratory building, a multifunctional building and a new multi-storey car park. These infrastructure measures are crucial in order to meet the increasing demands of research. The additional 30 laboratories and offices offer researchers an improved working environment that meets the latest technological and environmentally friendly standards.

    Sustainability and innovation go hand in hand
    A special feature of the new campus is its focus on sustainable energy generation and utilisation. A newly developed high-temperature geothermal probe system stores waste heat in summer and uses it to heat the buildings in winter. These and other technological innovations, which come directly from the Empa and Eawag laboratories, will not only be used on the campus, but will also be further researched to optimise their efficiency and environmental compatibility.

    A green and car-free campus
    In order to make the campus site more environmentally friendly and pedestrian-friendly, existing parking spaces were moved to the new multi-storey car park and the site was extensively landscaped. A “green belt” connects the two research institutes and creates an inviting atmosphere for employees and visitors. The new campus square at NEST also offers an attractive open space for socialising and recreation.

    Looking to the future
    With the completion of the “co-operate” project, Empa and Eawag have not only modernised their research infrastructure, but also laid the foundations for future innovations. The combination of state-of-the-art construction, sustainable energy utilisation and an improved working environment promotes cutting-edge research and strengthens Switzerland’s position as a leading location for scientific innovation.

  • Empa is researching underground storage

    Empa is researching underground storage

    Empa is setting up an experimental, seasonal energy storage facility under its new research campus in Dübendorf, the research institute informs in a message . The waste heat from ventilation and laboratory equipment is to be stored in the ground below the area. The aim is to supply the entire Empa area with energy, writes Empa.

    A geothermal probe field with a temperature gradient serves as a heat store, in which 144 geothermal probes anchored up to 100 meters deep in the ground are installed. With their help, the Empa researchers want to set an optimal mix between temperature, efficiency and energy storage. The temperatures in the underground storage can fluctuate by up to 50 degrees in the center and 10 degrees in the peripheral areas. At a depth of 100 meters, the storage system works particularly effectively and loses very little heat to the environment, explains Empa.

    The research institute can use the heat storage system for ten years, primarily for its own research purposes. On the one hand, an underground storage facility is very effective, but due to its large mass it is also sluggish, according to the press release. The researchers assume that it will take about three to four years to set the final operating temperature.