immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Strombedarf

  • Population calls for accelerated expansion of renewable energies

    Population calls for accelerated expansion of renewable energies

    Switzerland is about to take a decisive step in its energy policy. The government and parliament have set the course for the increased use of solar, wind and hydropower with the so-called “Mantelerlass”. A decisive step in this direction is the “Electricity Act”, which will be put to a popular vote on 9 June 2024. A representative survey conducted by a market research institute reveals that an overwhelming majority of 78% of the population wants to accelerate the expansion of renewable energies.

    Patrick Drack, Managing Director of STIEBEL ELTRON Switzerland, emphasises the importance of this law for the country’s energy future: “The Electricity Act is a fundamental building block for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 and aims to make our energy supply more sustainable and secure.” Political efforts are focussing in particular on avoiding energy shortages in winter.

    The survey results also make it clear that the Swiss population is calling for a balanced consideration of nature and landscape conservation alongside electricity production. While 42% are against prioritising electricity production over environmental protection, 58% are in favour of such prioritisation, provided it is carefully weighed up.

    Parallel to the energy transition, an increase in electricity demand is expected, particularly for heating and cooling buildings. Heat pump technology offers an efficient solution here, as it primarily utilises environmental energy. Although a high proportion of new buildings already rely on heat pumps, the heating supply for over half of all residential buildings is still based on fossil fuels. Environmentally friendly alternatives are supported by extensive subsidy programmes to facilitate the financial transition.

    The results of the “Energy Trend Monitor 2024” continue to show a strong 84% of the population in favour of financial support for households in need to convert to environmentally friendly heating systems. Similarly, 79% are in favour of targeted measures to reduce electricity prices for climate-friendly heating systems, such as the heat pump tariff.

  • EKZ supplies the Limmat Valley with a further 80 megawatts

    EKZ supplies the Limmat Valley with a further 80 megawatts

    With the facility in Oberengstringen, the electricity works of the canton of Zurich (EKZ) put their third substation in Limmat Valley into operation. The Limmattal is now supplied by the three substations Schlieren, Dietikon and Oberengstringen. The new substation with an output of 80 megawatts will gradually be put into operation by next February.

    "This means that we are very well prepared for the steadily growing energy demand in the region", Hans-Peter Häberli, Head of Construction and Systems at EKZ, is quoted in an interview . The economic upswing in the Limmattal with the settlement of new companies, a large data center and the Limmattalbahn is causing the demand for electricity to rise sharply. Häberli: “We have generally seen strong increases in load in the Limmat Valley over the past few years. In the future, the energy demand will be driven by the Limmattalbahn and the establishment of a data center in the region. The Schlieren substation, which previously supplied the region with energy, must therefore be relieved. Its capacity would soon no longer be sufficient. "

    The electrical energy is converted in the new substation. In the case of Oberengstringen, EKZ takes over the electricity with a voltage of 110 kilovolts from the Axpo high-voltage network. The energy is converted to 16 kilovolts with two 40-megawatt transformers, according to the EKZ website. After that, the electricity would be further stepped down until it is fed into the grid for end users such as housing estates.

    The connection of the new plant is to take place gradually by February. According to Häberli, Oberengstringen will then be fully connected to the Axpo high-voltage network. The communities of Ober- and Unterengstringen, Weiningen and parts of Schlieren are then supplied.