MIDLANDS
CITIES
THE ALPS
SWITZERLAND

EDGE

Integrating very high shares of decentralized renewable energy into the Swiss energy system.

EDGE wants to fast-track the growth of locally sourced decentralized renewable energy in Switzerland. The project aims to ensure that by 2035 and 2050, when ambitious shares of renewable energy are reached, the Swiss energy system is designed and operated in a technically and economically optimal and secure way, and that it is well positioned in the European markets.

 

Quantify new national-level scenarios and implementation pathways with high shares of decentralized renewable energy
  • Extend the existing pool of Swiss energy scenarios with an ambitious vision for renewable energy, using models with high temporal and spatial resolution
  • Assess feasibility, limits and implications of decentralized renewable energy generation
  • Analyze the interplay of decentralized and centralized renewable energy generation, storage and transmission grids, including the interconnection with Europe
Design and analyze multi-energy systems with a high share of renewable energy to coordinate region-specific supply, demand, and distribution grids in the three Swiss regions: cities, midlands and Alps
  • In cities, investigate systems with highly concentrated energy demand, building-integrated PV, anthropogenic biomass, district heating grids, etc.
  • In midlands, investigate systems dominated by high but dispersed demand, woody and agricultural biomass, PV, and wind power
  • In the Alps, investigate systems dominated by PV, woody biomass, and wind power
Design and demonstrate typical local renewable energy systems for each region in pilot & demonstration projects.
  • Bridge research with implementation by steering and participating in the construction of pilot & demonstration projects
  • Assess feasibility, limits and performance of such systems and their interaction with existing infrastructure
  • Analyze the behavior and acceptance by consumers and other key actors
Investigate how high shares of decentralized renewable energy can be scaled up and integrated with the existing infrastructures of distribution, transmission, centralized generation and storage
  • Analyze how existing distribution and transformation grids could be adapted to allow the integration of renewable electricity
  • Evaluate optimal niches that could be filled with microgrids
  • Focus on techno-economic efficiency as well as supply security, positioning Switzerland well regarding uncertain developments in the European markets
Evaluate various options for policy, market design and instruments, and other measures to mobilize finance, coordinate key actors, and enable socio-political acceptance
  • Analyze effectiveness and implementation feasibility of various federal, cantonal, and local policies, market instruments and financial aspects among the three regions
  • Analyze different socio-political conditions and policy acceptance
  • Identify ways to minimize new emerging inequalities from the energy transition across various stakeholders
News

all News

EDGE White Paper shows extreme level of fragmentation of rooftop PV policy in Switzerland

To reach its climate targets and secure its energy supply, Switzerland needs to multiply the annual deployment of renewable energy technologies, especially solar PV (as also shown in the SWEET EDGE inter-model comparison). The EDGE Policy White Paper quantifies the level of fragmentation of policy targeting PV on rooftops of households in Switzerland.


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The EDGE national survey is now closed

The national survey is closed. We thank all participants! We already have contacted the winners from the prize draw and wish them a good time with their prices!
The results of the survey will be up on this website in Spring 2023.


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Our EDGE 1-year report has been published on Aramis

The Aramis 1-year report highlights progress made. This report is available in 4 languages (English, German, French and Italian).


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Watch our partner's illustrated video interview!

Discover the great work of our Research Partner Christof Bucher, Professor of Photovoltaic Systems at BFH, in our last Youtube interview. His work mainly focuses on testing photovoltaic systems that cannot be tested by the private industry.


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SWEET EDGE Third Newsletter is out!

First EDGE Evaluation Meeting, second in-person Consortium Meeting, multiple interviews, two peer reviewed publications... . 👉 Find out what EDGE members worked on for the past few months!


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EDGE First Site Visit was held

We are very pleased to have welcomed SFOE members and international experts to Geneva for EDGE Evaluation Meeting at the end of August 2022. Very interesting points were raised and constructive feedback will be taken into account.


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EDGE Second in-person Consortium Meeting

Our second EDGE in-person Consortium Meeting was held on 31 August and 1 September 2022 at the University of Geneva. What a nice and fruitful way to exchange ideas and work together towards a fully renewable Switzerland!


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Good news for solar PV ­

Policy momentum is building for faster construction of solar PV in Switzerland. New installations are planned along the roads, and discussions start on mandatory PV installations in new buildings from 2024 and potentially on PV in the mountains.  


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The SWEET EDGE survey has started!

The national survey on the future of energy supply in all regions of Switzerland has started.


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Updates on EDGE P&D project in Wittenbach (WP5)

Find the latest updates of the pilot and demonstration project in the midlands (WP 5) lead by Prof. Jürg Rohrer, ZHAW.


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Successful implementation of the Swiss Energy Strategy 2050 is a mandatory contribution for Switzerland to reach its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. The gap between the greenhouse gas emissions pathways under current policies and the required emissions for carbon neutrality is vast in Switzerland as well as in Europe. Thus, climate change mitigation is a continent-wide challenge that Switzerland must participate in. Climate neutrality in principle requires an almost or fully renewable energy supply in Switzerland, especially exploiting decentralized resources.

Swiss Energy Research for the Energy Transition SWEET

SWEET – "SWiss Energy research for the Energy Transition" – is a funding programme of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE). SWEET’s purpose is to accelerate innovations that are key to implementing Switzerland’s Energy Strategy 2050 and achieving the country’s climate goals. The programme was launched in early 2021 and the funding programme runs until 2032.

SWEET EDGE is a research project sponsored by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy's "SWEET" programme and coordinated by the University of Geneva’s Renewable Energy Systems group and the EPFL Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences