immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Stromversorgung

  • Takeover strengthens position in the European energy market

    Takeover strengthens position in the European energy market

    In a press release, BKW announced the acquisition of the French energy company Volterres SAS. Volterres SAS operates a network of over 100 solar, wind and hydroelectric power plants and enables the tracking of electricity flows in real time. Volterres supplies more than 2 terawatt hours of electricity annually to companies and public organisations.

    The acquisition fits seamlessly into BKW’s existing strategy for France. The company had already previously expanded its activities in the country, including a contract to optimise 200 megawatts of battery capacity. BKW also markets numerous third-party wind, solar and battery projects in France and manages an annual renewable production of over 1 terawatt. With Volterres, BKW now covers the entire energy value chain.

    Strategically, the acquisition is an important step within Solutions 2030, according to the press release. With this focus, BKW is concentrating on the Energy Solutions, Power Grid and Infrastructure & Buildings business areas and positioning itself along the entire value chain of the energy transition. The aim is to achieve EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) of over CHF 1 billion by 2030. France plays a key role in this.

    “France is a strategically important market for us. With the integration of Volterres, we are strengthening our position not only there, but in the entire European market and are further developing our portfolio of flexible energy solutions,” said Stefan Sewckow, Executive Vice President Energy Markets.

    BKW, based in Bern, is an internationally active energy and infrastructure company. Its range of services extends from engineering and consulting to building technology and the construction and operation of energy and supply grids.

  • Electricity industry warns of declining security of electricity supply

    Electricity industry warns of declining security of electricity supply

    According to a press release, the Association of Swiss Electricity Companies (VSE) has presented the Swiss Electricity Supply Index for the first time. The index rates Switzerland’s electricity supply at 82 points for 2035 and only 69 points for 2050.

    The index assesses the electricity supply in five categories. Per capita electricity demand is set to rise further, mainly due to electromobility and data centres; the index gives a score of 86 points for 2050. The expansion of renewable energies is too slow, especially for winter supply. Solar panels on roofs are not sufficient for this, and projects in wind and hydroelectric power production are being delayed or cancelled. The index gives 83 points for 2050. The flexibility of the electricity system is rated at only 52 points for 2050. The federal target for the expansion of seasonal storage will be significantly missed. The expansion of electricity production receives 63 points. The phasing out of domestic nuclear power from 2040 onwards will increase demand. The expansion of the grids is rated at only 57 points.

    In its statement, the VSE points out that imports cannot be increased at will and do not offer any security in times of shortage. “Switzerland is at a decisive crossroads: without decisive energy policy decisions, concrete investments in new production capacities and a significant acceleration of the approval process, we are putting our security of supply at risk,” VSE President Martin Schwab is quoted as saying in the statement.

  • DC technology as the key to the energy transition

    DC technology as the key to the energy transition

    Direct current is gaining strategic importance. The OVE DC Day 2025, organised in cooperation with the Smart Grids Austria technology platform, brought together around 80 international experts. Key topics included so-called DC microgrids, local energy grids that network renewable energies, storage systems and consumers on a direct current basis.

    These systems enable significantly more efficient energy distribution, for example in buildings, data centres, industry and self-sufficient island grids. Their potential is also evident in electromobility, for example through the direct coupling of charging infrastructure with renewable power generation.

    Focus on standardisation and safety
    In addition to specific fields of application, technical and normative aspects were also discussed. The speakers presented experiences from ongoing DC pilot projects, new regulatory frameworks and progress in standardisation. It was particularly emphasised that parallel projects are essential in order to create robust standards for DC technology.

    Inspiration from the industry
    With keynote speeches by Yannick Neyret (Schneider Electric) and Friederich Kupzog (AIT) as well as expert contributions from well-known companies, the DC Day offered a high-calibre overview of current developments. The focus was on practical insights from the industry and targeted dialogue between experts. An ideal basis for accelerated knowledge transfer.

    Direct current as an accelerator of the energy transition
    A highlight was the panel discussion with leading figures from the industry, including representatives from Siemens, Eaton, AIT, Schneider Electric and the Fraunhofer Institute. Under the moderation of Karl-Heinz Mayer (Eaton), it became clear that DC systems are ready for widespread use. Provided that standardisation and safety develop at the same time as the technology.

  • Expansion of the power supply in Graubünden

    Expansion of the power supply in Graubünden

    Graubünden-based Repower AG has announced an expansion of its distribution area. As the Poschiavo-based electricity producer, distribution system operator and energy trader announced in a press release, additional municipalities in the Misox region and the Calanca Valley will receive their electricity from Repower from 2027.

    According to the expansion plans, Buseno and Cama as well as the electricity company Media Mesolcina Energia, which supplies the municipalities of Grono, Lostallo and Soazza, will be supplied by the Repower subsidiary Moesano SA based in Grono.

    The reason for this is the high electricity tariffs in the Moesa. According to the press release, they are among the highest in Graubünden. The timing of the switch is linked to the energy supply contracts, which do not expire until the end of 2027. Repower plans to minimise costs in the aforementioned municipalities as early as 2026 by supporting the purchase of electricity to the tune of 5 centimes per kilowatt hour.

    “As Repower produces the electricity it supplies in its own power plants, the production costs form the basis for the energy tariff,” it says. It guarantees electricity consumers a “long-term stable electricity price that is not exposed to volatile markets”.

  • Hybrid small power plant promotes green energy in Graubünden

    Hybrid small power plant promotes green energy in Graubünden

    NewGreenTec AG has installed one of its hybrid wind-solar small power plants on the roof of the Plantahof. In future, it will contribute to the sustainable power supply of the agricultural training centre in the canton of Graubünden and eastern Switzerland. According to the start-up company, it will also enable pupils and teachers to experience the technology first-hand and expand their knowledge of renewable energies.

    “We are delighted to be promoting the sustainable development of agriculture in Graubünden with this project,” said Frido Stutz, Managing Director of NewGreenTec AG, in a company press release. “The combination of wind and solar energy is a pioneering step towards an environmentally friendly and stable power supply throughout the day and year.”

    NewGreenTec also recognises this as a symbol of the potential for a sustainable future: “With the power of wind and sun, the Rhine Valley is set to become another example of successful innovation in green energy supply.” The company’s first small power plant on an industrial building was put into operation in January 2023.

    The hybrid device combines solar panels, a small wind turbine and storage technology in a single unit and was developed in collaboration with Swiss universities of applied sciences. The wind turbines, which rotate around a vertical axis, are independent of the wind direction and virtually noiseless.

  • Solar energy as the driving force behind the power supply

    Solar energy as the driving force behind the power supply

    Swissolar sees potential for solar installations to account for 80% of the country’s electricity expansion by 2035. According to the first Solar Monitor Switzerland, which has now been published, the annual solar power yield could reach more than 28 terawatt hours. According to a press release, the recently published Solar Monitor Switzerland provides the first up-to-date facts and figures on the future development of the solar market. It includes forecasts for the expansion of photovoltaics up to the year 2035.

    For the current year, solar energy is contributing 11% to electricity generation and is therefore “well on the way to becoming the second mainstay of Switzerland’s electricity supply alongside hydropower”. The prerequisite is “significantly improved implementation provisions”, it says. The new Electricity Act has led to uncertainty, which will have a dampening effect on market growth over the next two years. After that, new growth spurts can be expected.

    For the first time, the Solar Monitor also provides an overview of industry turnover and the skilled labor situation. According to the report, the industry is expected to generate 3.7 billion Swiss francs in the current year and could reach 6 billion in ten years’ time. As part of a survey, Swissolar collected figures on the personnel situation. There are currently 11,000 full-time equivalents working in the solar industry. In order to achieve the expansion targets set out in the Electricity Act, 19,000 full-time employees are required.

    In future, an updated version of the Solar Monitor will be published annually.

  • Purchasing organisation generates its own electricity in St.Gallen

    Purchasing organisation generates its own electricity in St.Gallen

    The purchasing organisation of the Swiss automotive and motor vehicle industry(ESA) has completed its own power supply network with a third system, according to a press release. On Thursday, 15 August, a photovoltaic system was put into operation at the ESA site in St.Gallen. ESA launched the first two systems at its headquarters in Burgdorf four months ago and in Giubiasco a month ago.

    With around 1,800 modules and around 3,500 square metres, the photovoltaic system in St.Gallen is currently ESA’s second-largest system. The amount of electricity generated in future will roughly cover the annual consumption of 150 households. The plant in Burgdorf covers 200 households, the one in Giubiasco around 25 households.

    The ESA purchasing organisation was founded in 1930. As a co-operative, it is owned by around 7000 co-owners from the automotive and motor vehicle industry. Around 670 employees, including around 60 apprentices, work at eleven locations throughout Switzerland.

  • Emergency power for automatic doors: New battery backup solution

    Emergency power for automatic doors: New battery backup solution

    According to a press release,Dormakaba is launching a fire-tested battery backup for uninterruptible power supply in door automation. The installation kit for rechargeable lithium iron phosphate batteries (LiFEPO4) has been specially developed for the ED 100/250 proprietary product. In the event of a power failure, the battery backup switches on and ensures continuous functionality of the automatic swing door system.

    Extensive scientific tests carried out by the Swedish state research institute Research Institutes of Sweden have ruled out any safety concerns, according to the statement, adding that the solution has demonstrated its added value in terms of safety and reliability “under very demanding test conditions”. This involved integrating an automatic door system on a fully equipped fire door and creating a worst-case scenario.

    “With the launch, we have developed a competitive product that offers customers significant added value in terms of security and sustainability,” Magin Guardiola, Chief Innovation Officer at dormakaba, is quoted as saying. Other advantages cited include lower installation costs and less need for expensive cable connections to external units.

    The locking technology company from Glattal intends to grow in Scandinavia with the building management solution. The product will be launched in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden in April and May.

  • BKW makes the start house on the Matterhorn energy self-sufficient

    BKW makes the start house on the Matterhorn energy self-sufficient

    This year’s Ski World Cup season starts on the weekends of 11/12 and 18/19 November with cross-border races in Zermatt and Cervinia. According to a press release, BKW has erected a mobile start house on the Theodul Glacier above Zermatt that does not require an external power supply.

    The starting house measures 15 by 8 metres and is inflatable. It weighs 600 kilograms and is designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour. Power is supplied by 40 integrated solar cells with a total output of 11 kilowatts peak.

    The system was installed by companies from the Bern-based energy service provider’s network. These included BKW Engingeering for the project management, ingenhoven architects based in Düsseldorf for the building planning and enerpeak based in Dübendorf for the electrics and photovoltaics.

    BKW is an official premium and sustainability partner of the event organiser Swiss-Ski. “We are using the partnership with Swiss-Ski to bring sustainable solutions to snow sports,” said Michael Morgenthaler, Head of Brand Experience, Partnerships & Campaigns at BKW, in the press release. “At the same time, we can show the public our broad expertise in the areas of energy, buildings and infrastructure.”

  • Parliament agrees on expansion of renewable energies

    Parliament agrees on expansion of renewable energies

    On 26 September, the National Council cleared the way for an agreement with the Council of States on the federal law on a secure electricity supply with renewable energies. The so-called Energy Decree sets binding target values for the expansion of renewable energies and extends previously limited support instruments. Special emphasis is placed on securing the electricity supply after the phase-out of nuclear power and, in particular, on the electricity supply in winter.

    Lastly, Kurt Egger (GP/TG) had cleared the way for agreement. According to the minutes of the National Council, he withdrew a motion by the minority that would have prescribed the construction of photovoltaic systems on new car parks from a size of 500 square metres from 2030. Egger also regretted that the new law only stipulates a solar obligation for new buildings from a floor area of 300 square metres.

    Previously, the Council of States had accommodated the large chamber. For example, less residual water in hydroelectric power plants may only be permitted if there is an imminent shortage of electricity. The small chamber also approved the introduction of a market for energy efficiency measures proposed by the National Council.

    Federal Councillor Albert Rösti thanked both chambers for their ability to compromise. He said he hoped that Parliament had thus achieved a “medium level of satisfaction” on all sides. He said that the law would lead to Switzerland generating 3 to 5 terawatt hours more winter electricity in the next five to ten years. “Then we will be back on the safe side,” Rösti said. But this would require new hydropower projects, namely Grimsel, Trift and Gorner, as well as alpine solar plants.

    The new federal law is to come into force on 1 January 2025. But the political debate continues. Kurt Egger pointed out that the Greens would launch their solar initiative for compulsory solar energy on roofs and facades of new buildings.

  • Exista acquires Fabrimex for growth in high-end power supplies

    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.

  • Federal Council enacts ordinance amendment to implement the solar offensive

    Federal Council enacts ordinance amendment to implement the solar offensive

    With the amendments to the Energy Act, Parliament facilitates the approval of large-scale photovoltaic plants and establishes a subsidy for them with a one-time payment of up to 60 percent of the investment costs. These facilitations apply until these new large-scale photovoltaic plants allow a total annual production of a maximum of 2 terawatt hours (TWh) throughout Switzerland. The amendments to the Energy Act are limited until 2025.

    The amendments to the Energy Ordinance, the Energy Promotion Ordinance and the Electricity Supply Ordinance adopted by the Federal Council on 17 March 2023 concern the implementation of Article 71a of the Energy Act (production of additional electricity from large-scale photovoltaic plants). DETEC had conducted a public consultation on this from 5 to 16 December 2022. The Federal Council has now laid down the following principles in the ordinance:

    Expansion threshold 2 TWh: The threshold of 2 TWh is determined by the production of the legally approved projects. The cantons shall report to the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) on an ongoing basis on the planned projects and their status from the time of the public invitation to tender to the time of commissioning. The SFOE maintains a publicly accessible and continuously updated list of this information.

    Exclusion of crop rotation areas: Installations on crop rotation areas are excluded from the scope of Article 71a. This prevents these PV systems from competing with food production.

    Building permit: The building permit must be issued by the canton. This requires the consent of the siting municipality and the landowners. As part of the building permit, the canton must also stipulate the conditions regarding dismantling. A permit from the Swiss Federal Inspectorate for Heavy Current Installations or the Swiss Federal Office of Energy is required for the electrical connection. The cantonal licensing authority coordinates with the federal authorities.

    Amount of the one-off payment: An application can be submitted if a legally binding building permit has been issued for the project. The maximum amount of the one-off subsidy is 60 percent of the eligible investment costs. In order to benefit from the subsidy, at least ten percent of the expected production of the entire planned plant or 10 gigawatt hours must be fed into the grid by the end of 2025. The deadline for full commissioning of the plants runs until the end of 2030. For those projects that do not meet these criteria, the normal one-time compensation for photovoltaic plants is available. Grid reinforcements: The Federal Electricity Commission is responsible for approving the remuneration for the necessary grid reinforcements for large-scale photovoltaic plants. These costs are part of the system services of the national grid company Swissgrid.

  • Milestone for the further development of CH energy policy

    Milestone for the further development of CH energy policy

    Particularly important decisions of the Commission meeting of 20-23.2.2023

    • A regulation for solar plants in the national interest: This will make it possible to build Alpine solar power plants even after the expiry of the urgent federal decree (“Solar Express”).
    • The obligation of operators of larger storage hydropower plants to participate in the energy reserve: Photovoltaics (PV) in combination with hydropower enables a secure power supply in winter, provided the reservoirs are not emptied prematurely for economic reasons.
    • The possibility of loans in case the resources of the grid surcharge fund are not sufficient for the intended promotion of renewable energy production: This can avoid a “stop-and-go”.
    • Data from smart metering systems are to be made available to end consumers in real time: This promotes the optimal coordination of electricity production (e.g. from PV systems) and consumption at the local level, which can reduce investments in electricity grids.
    • Storage facilities without end consumption are to be exempted from the grid fee for an unlimited period. And storage facilities with end consumption should also be able to benefit from a refund of the grid fee for the energy fed back into the grid from these storage facilities: This promotes the grid-serving use of stationary storage facilities as well as the bidirectional charging of electric vehicles.
    • The framework conditions for local electricity communities (LEG) have been significantly improved compared to the resolution of the Council of States: this is also a significant contribution to the intelligent use of the grids.
    • In rural areas, high costs for grid reinforcements often lead to PV projects being suspended. A cost pass-through is intended to provide relief here.
    • The parliamentary initiative by Swissolar President Jürg Grossen’s initiative to harmonise the taxation of the sale of solar electricity was unanimously approved. This is an essential contribution to clearing up the “patchwork” of framework conditions for solar plants.


    Detailed information at www.parlament.ch