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Renewable Energy Outlook II Sparks Nationwide Media Attention
From national radio to leading newspapers, the new Renewable Energy Outlook is sparking critical conversations on Switzerland’s energy future.
We are pleased to see that the release of the Renewable Energy Outlook II has sparked significant national media interest, affirming the importance and relevance of the work led by the SWEET EDGE consortium.
From in-depth newspaper analyses to primetime radio segments, Swiss media outlets have highlighted the report’s key findings with striking clarity and urgency:
- Radio SRF 1, Switzerland’s most listened-to station, featured the Outlook on Echo der Zeit, underlining the necessity of a large-scale rollout of solar and wind technologies to meet climate goals. ETH researchers stressed that such a transition will not be possible without targeted subsidies.
- In a powerful editorial in NZZ am Sonntag, Editor-in-Chief Beat Balzli positioned the report within a broader call for innovation in energy infrastructure and policy. He pointed to the quadrupling of solar capacity as a pivotal requirement outlined in the Outlook.
- The Corriere del Ticino, reaching readers across the Italian-speaking region, underscored the technical data: solar capacity must rise from 6.4 GW to 26.8 GW, and wind capacity from 0.1 GW to 8.4 GW. ETH’s Giovanni Sansavini noted that this scale of transformation will require robust public support.
- Meanwhile, BZ Basel offered readers a deep dive into regional implications, quoting researcher Ambra Van Liedekerke on the necessity for strategic site selection and policy support. The article also drew attention to how Switzerland’s energy independence could impact electricity prices without integration into the European electricity market.
- Swissinfo.ch reported that to achieve its 2050 climate goals, Switzerland must significantly increase its solar and wind energy capacities. The article noted that the country's current solar installations would need to quadruple, and wind energy capacity would need to expand by a factor of 80. The report emphasized the necessity of effective subsidies and efficient cross-border electricity exchange to realize these targets.
- La Liberté, a major regional French-language daily, highlighted the need to quadruple solar and expand wind capacity eightyfold to meet Switzerland’s 2050 climate goals. The article placed the SWEET EDGE report in the context of replacing nuclear power and electrifying transport, heating, and industry.
- L’Agefi, a leading business-focused newspaper, also reported on the findings, focusing on the macroeconomic implications of the transition and reaffirming the figures on renewable energy capacity expansion.
This media resonance underscores not only the urgency of action but also the value of interdisciplinary, evidence-based research. We thank all journalists and media professionals for helping to bring these insights to a broader audience.
🔗 You can read the full Outlook here.
Highlights from the 2nd Swiss Conference
From Research to Action: 2nd Swiss Conference Underscores Urgency of Cross-Border Integration, Public Trust, and Scalable Renewables
On 22 May 2025, more than 100 participants gathered in Bern for the 2nd Swiss Conference on Decentralised Energy, organised by the SWEET EDGE consortium. The event brought together researchers, policymakers, energy practitioners, and civil society representatives to explore how decentralised solutions can support Switzerland’s transition to a more secure, sustainable, affordable, and climate-friendly energy system.
The conference showcased the unique role of SWEET EDGE in supporting evidence-based policymaking through interdisciplinary research. The discussions reaffirmed the importance of co-creation and open dialogue in shaping energy strategies that are both innovative and grounded in real-world needs.
We thank all speakers, participants, and partners who contributed to the success of the event. Your insights and engagement are helping shape Switzerland’s energy future.
Stay tuned as we continue to publish key findings and follow up on the outcomes of the conference.
Watch our partners’ interviews: getting ready for the Energy Drinks!
Ahead of the last Energy Drinks event, held in Geneva on 8 and 15 January 2025, we took some time with our partners to capture their perspectives on the evolving energy landscape. Through a series of short interviews, they shared their thoughts on the key challenges in the energy transition, what they expected from the event, and how collaboration can drive innovative solutions. These videos provide a behind-the-scenes look at the EDGE experts and enable to shape discussions on decentralized renewable energy.
The second SWEET EDGE survey has started!
10th EDGE newsletter is out !
What's in the newsletter?
📝 Registration open: Join us for the second Swiss conference on decentralized energy, happening on 22 May 2025 in Bern. Participation is free but spots are limited. Register here.
🔥 Press releases: How would Switzerland handle a drop in gas and electricity imports? EDGE researchers modeled scenarios with reduced gas and electricity imports. Their results have been picked up by Swiss media.
☀️ Local action: Wittenbach on the cover page of the St. Galler Nachrichten. From PV on rooftops to parking lots and farmland, Wittenbach is making important steps in local energy innovation.
🎥 Meet our partners: Check out a new video series from the Energy Drinks event, featuring EDGE partners' interviews from EPFL, UNIGE, HSLU, BFH, and our guests from other SWEET projects.
📩 You want to subscribe to the newsletter? Do it here.
The second Swiss conference on decentralized energy will take place on 22 May 2025 in Bern
We are delighted to announce that the second Swiss conference on decentralized energy organized by SWEET EDGE will take place on Thursday, 22 May 2025, in Bern.
What?
This is the second national conference focused on decentralized renewable energy in Switzerland, bringing together experts and stakeholders to discuss cutting-edge solutions for a sustainable energy future.
For whom?
This public event is open to all stakeholders, including those from industry, policy, associations, and public administrations who are engaged in the Swiss energy transition.
Why?
Switzerland must accelerate the deployment of renewable energy technologies to meet its climate targets and secure a reliable energy supply. SWEET EDGE’s mission is to facilitate the integration of decentralized renewable energy at high levels into the Swiss energy system.
When?
Join us on 22 May 2025 for a day of impactful discussions and networking.
Where?
The conference will be held at the Sorell Hotel Ador, just a 5-minute walk from Bern train station.
Which language?
The conference will be held in three languages: English, German, and French.
Agenda:
Provisional Agenda of the second Swiss conference on decentralized energy
Registration?
To participate, please click on the registration link below. Your registration is only final once you have completed the questionnaire. The event is free, but registration is mandatory. The number of participants is limited to 150 (first come, first served).
EDGE is now on Bluesky!
We're excited to expand our engagement with the energy communities on Bluesky!
This platform allows us to share insights, project updates, and key discussions. Bluesky provides a fresh space for collaboration and meaningful exchanges on decentralized renewable energy. Stay updated on EDGE’s latest activities by following us and joining the conversation!
Find us @sweet-edge.bsky.social
EDGE on the cover page of the St. Galler Nachrichten
Zoom on the EDGE pilot project in Wittenbach, who aims to be pioneer in the energy transition. By participating in the EDGE research consortium, Wittenbach joins a select group of Swiss municipalities aiming to demonstrate by 2026 what a truly sustainable energy supply could look like.
Key elements include the expansion of photovoltaic systems like:
- rooftop installations
- parking lot roofs
- agri-PV systems
"We are consciously leveraging existing technologies and optimizing their implementation," says our research partner Nicolas Stocker from the ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, the scientific partner of the project in Wittenbach.
-> Read the full article
Last article on EDGE co-coordinator: "Evelina Trutnevyte: The Energy Oracle"
Switzerland is striving for net-zero emissions by 2050. According to our EDGE co-coordinator Evelina Trutnevyte:
"The set goal is entirely achievable. Of course, the pace of the transition must accelerate significantly, but there is a wide range of solutions to implement the objectives set by the law. This allows for case-by-case choices, depending on whether the priority is cost reduction, nature conservation, or social acceptance. All of this can be achieved without relying on fossil fuels or nuclear energy and without compromising the population's comfort."
As an associate professor at the University of Geneva and a member of the Swiss Federal Energy Research Commission, EDGE co-coordinator Evelina Trutnevyte leads major national and European research projects focused on energy transition feasibility.
Her approach? Bridging technical energy modeling with social sciences, integrating factors like public acceptance, fairness, and implementation feasibility.
Join us for the Energy Drinks event on 8 and 15 January 2025!
Join us on January 8 and 15, 2025, for two evenings of presentations and games about renewable energy!
What?
Each evening will feature 3 to 4 presentations on current energy topics in Switzerland. After each presentation, there will be a game that everyone is welcome to join! Prizes will be awarded to the winners of each game: t-shirts, solar chargers, tote bags...
When?
Two events are planned, from 6 PM to 9 PM:
- January 8, 2025: "100% renewable energy in Switzerland: Is it possible?"
- January 15, 2025: "Do we need alpine photovoltaics in Switzerland?"
Feel free to attend both events!
Where?
The downstairs room at Café Gavroche, reserved especially for the occasion.
Address: Café Gavroche, Boulevard James-Fazy 4, 1201 Geneva
Who can attend?
Everyone is welcome, whether you come alone or with friends. The event is open to all, even those with no prior knowledge of renewable energy!
In what language?
The presentations will be in French and English. Even if you don’t speak one of the two languages, we’ll be there to help you!
Organized by?
The event is organized by EDGE, a SWEET consortium sponsored by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, bringing together researchers from around ten Swiss universities.
Registration?
No registration is required, but we encourage you to arrive by 6 PM to secure your spot.
The EDGE Renewable Energy Outlook (REO) was presented to municipalities at the GREE meeting
In order to build connections and discuss energy, the GREE invited representatives from several French-speaking Swiss municipalities involved in wind energy projects to a meeting. The meeting was held on Thursday, September 19, 2024, in the early afternoon at the Veytaux hydroelectric power plant, operated by Forces Motrices Hongrin-Léman SA. On the agenda: the presentation of a study on the potential of renewable energies in Switzerland and a tour of the gigantic hydraulic installations of the power plant.
EDGE co-leader Professor Evelina Trutnevyte from the University of Geneva presented the results of the study Renewable Energy Outlook for Switzerland. This work, conducted jointly by the University of Geneva, EPFL, ETH Zurich, and the University of Bern, demonstrated that the goals of the new electricity law, passed in June 2024, are achievable. By 2035, it is possible to produce an additional 17, 25, or even 35 TWh per year from renewable sources.
Agri photovoltaic could supply five times more electricity than Switzerland needs
ZHAW researchers have revealed that agrivoltaics (agri-PV) could supply 5x more electricity than Switzerland currently needs! By combining agriculture and solar energy, we can combat climate change while generating additional income from electricity production. A press release was sent out on 2 September 2024 by our research partner ZHAW, School of Life Sciences and Facility Management.
Key takeaways:
• Over 300 TWh of potential energy production from agri-PV
• Reduced soil erosion, crop protection, and shelter for livestock
• A sustainable way to boost solar energy and agricultural resilience
Although further research is needed to confirm the benefits for agriculture, agrivoltaics promises significant synergies. Agriculture can play a pivotal role in Switzerland's energy transition and benefit from it at the same time.
The third SWEET Conference was held on 4 September 2024 in Bern
The third SWEET Conference was held on 4 September 2024 at the Eventforum in Bern, organized by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE).
SWEET EDGE co-leaders attended the conference for the third time, joining over 100 researchers and representatives from business and government. The SWEET conferences provide a platform for the exchange between research and implementation. They are aimed at researchers from current and future SWEET consortia, as well as experts from energy research and representatives from the private sector, associations, cantons, cities, municipalities, and the federal government.
This year, to enhance opportunities for interaction among different stakeholders, more time was allocated to the "marketplace." The "marketplace" is a space where each consortium can present its latest results and engage in discussions. Additionally, the afternoon’s discussions focused on "Communication to business and politics."
Presentations and posters from all previous SWEET conferences are available for download on the SFOE website: SWEET Conference Presentations. The SFOE's article on the importance of internal and external communication is available via this link: SFOE Communication Article. The fourth SWEET conference will take place on 26 August 2025.
Picture source: www.bfe.admin.ch
The fourth in-person Consortium Meeting was held on 22-23 August 2024 in Horw
The fourth in-person consortium meeting of EDGE was held on 22 and 23 August 2024 at the University of Lucerne (HSLU), on the campus of Horw. EDGE PhDs and postdocs from all working groups presented their latest work. A social activity and a social dinner were also be organized to strengthen relationships.
Consortium meetings are always a great way to exchange ideas and reflect on progress. The previous in-person consortium meeting was held on 23 August 2023, a day after the biennial conference in Bern.
Switzerland said “yes” to the electricity law!
In the fall of 2023, Parliament approved the Federal Act on a Secure Electricity Supply Based on Renewable Energies. The law establishes the foundation for rapidly increasing domestic electricity production from renewable energy sources such as water, solar, wind, and biomass. A referendum was launched against the project for a secure electricity supply, but it was successful. On June 9, 2024, the Swiss people approved the project with 68.7% of the vote.
Thanks to all EDGE research partners, support partners and implementation partners, the EDGE consortium continues to provide scientific evidence to accelerate the growth of locally sourced decentralized renewable energy in Switzerland. Detail results on the vote of 9 June 2024 are available via the link below.
New monitoring panel members and new advisory board member
EDGE is honored to welcome the two new members of the EDGE monitoring panel: Dr. Stefan Nowak, Managing director of Net Nowak Energie AG: Head of the monitoring panel, and Prof. Andreas Balthasar, Professor of political science at the University of Lucerne. EDGE also proudly welcomed a new member of its Advisory Board (AB): Olivier Wimmer, Head of international projects at aaesuisse. He replaces our former AB member Gianni Operto from aaesuisse as of June 2024.
8th SWEET EDGE newsletter is out !
Welcome to our SWEET-EDGE quarterly newsletter:
🤝 New monitoring panel members and new advisory board member
🍹 Second "Energy Drinks" events for the general public
▶ New video on the EDGE recommender tool
💬 Switzerland said “yes” to the electricity law!
📰 The EDGE Renewable Energy Outlook for Switzerland received high attention
Other events, publications…and more!
EDGE just held the consortium's third evaluation meeting
The EDGE consortium welcomed members of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy and international experts for EDGE third evaluation meeting on 24 and 25 June 2024 in Davos. EDGE presented the newest advancements and showed progress made since the second evaluation meeting in June 2023.
Additionally, an excursion was organized by EDGE to the Totalp site, which was directly connected to EDGE P&D activities. The team saw the solar panels installed in a high alpine environment, surrounded by typical infrastructures of ski resorts that could offer potentials for sustainable infrastructures.
A new EDGE video is published on our YouTube channel
▶ 💡 Watch our last video on a new tool that gathers the energy data of every Swiss city! It’s called the "recommender tool".
❓ What? The recommender tool is an online tool that centralizes the real-world energy data of your Swiss city.
⚡ More specifically? It gathers energy data on buildings, electricity, heat, mobility, CO2 emissions, and best potentials of every single Swiss city.
🙋♂️ Who can use it? The recommender tool will be able to be used by your municipality, utilities, or even yourself!
⏱ When? We will let you know once the tool is available, but first have a look at our video to better understand what the tool is!
>> Link to the video
With Philipp Schütz, Manuel Meyer, Ueli Schilt, Esther Linder, Sarah Schneeberger at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts
The EDGE Renewable Energy Outlook for Switzerland received high attention
Since its publication, the Renewable Energy Outlook for Switzerland (REO) was downloaded over 1'800 times. It was highlighted in close to 40 articles, including the national ones: NZZ, Le Temps, as well as on TV in the SRF Eco Talk (14:48) and the RTS (04:21).
Reference: TRUTNEVYTE, Evelina et al. 2024. Doi: 10.13097/archive-ouverte/unige:172640.
Download the REO: https://archive-ouverte.unige.ch/unige:172640
Second Energy Drinks events for the general public, join us!
Second "Energy Drinks" events - May 2024
After the enthusiasm of the first series of the “Energy Drinks” events in August 2023 in Bern, which gathered around half of the audience coming outside of SWEET EDGE, we will reiterate the experience! These events aim at gathering the public around a drink while listening to several presentations per night on hot energy topics for Switzerland. To make it livelier, games with the public are organized after each presentation and there will be prices to win!
2 evenings, 2 topics:
⚡️22 May 2024: 100% renewables in Switzerland? Wishful thinking or a realistic option?
🗻23 May 2024: Hype or hope? What is the use of alpine photovoltaics in Switzerland?
Open to all. Games. Talks. Quizzes. Prizes to win! 🎉
👀 What? 4 presentations per night on hot energy topics!
🕕 When? 22 & 23 May 2024, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
🍻 Where? At “The Alehouse”, Zurich
💬 Language? In German
👋 No registration required. Free of charge!
Third event on knowledge and technology transfer in SWEET
On 23 April 2024, the knowledge and technology transfer (KTT) managers of the respective SWEET consortia met for the third KTT event organized by the SFOE in Bern. The topic was stakeholder mapping. These KTT events aim at sharing good practices and learning new skills. The previous meeting of 23 November 2023 focused on social media communication, in particular LinkedIn.
More information about KTT for SWEET on the SFOE website: https://www.bfe.admin.ch/bfe/en/home/research-and-cleantech/funding-program-sweet/ktt-for-sweet.html
Latest YouTube video on the "Renewable Energy Outlook for Switzerland"
Watch our latest YouTube video explaining in simple words the strategies of the "Renewable Energy Outlook", with a focus on the target of 35 TWh/year of new renewable technologies by 2035.
Results show that this target is technically feasible without domestic nuclear power or major fossil fuel plants in Switzerland. Please watch, share and let us know what you think in comments below the video!
Background:
- In September 2023, the Swiss parliament approved a new set of policy measures on renewable electricity, called the “Mantelerlass”. It sets a new target of 35 TWh/year of new renewable technologies by 2035. Therefore, the EDGE consortium has defined three strategies for attaining the new target at minimum cost.
- The three models show that the 35 TWh/year target is technically feasible without domestic nuclear power or major fossil fuel plants in Switzerland. Solar PV would remain the primary technology but would need to be complemented by other technologies: such as wind power, other types of photovoltaics such as open- field PV, biomass and waste, or a combination of these.
- This target of 35 TWh/year would also allow Switzerland to reach fully or nearly fully renewable electricity supply in 2035 on annual basis, and to minimize winter import dependency.
Link to video: https://youtu.be/IAi7KujbCPU
7th SWEET EDGE newsletter is out !
- First Renewable Energy Outlook for Switzerland (REO) is out!
- New study on the potential for agri-PV in Swiss agriculture,
- Second Energy Drinks events for the general public,
- Interview from our research partner Isabelle Stadelmann-Steffen following the referendum decision against the "Mantelerlass”,
- New YouTube video explaining in simple words the strategies of the "Renewable Energy Outlook"…
…events, publications…and more!
Newsletter in English
Newsletter in German
Newsletter in French
Previous newsletters accessible here
New study on the potential for agri-PV in Swiss agriculture
In this new study by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) of January 2024, a new theoretical total potential of 323 TWh/y for agri-PV in Switzerland was calculated, and the potential covers 56 % of the agricultural land available in Switzerland in 2022 (excluding grazing areas). These high numbers show that agri-PV systems could be used as supplements to PV systems on roof surfaces and other existing infrastructures.
The study is available in English and German. Doi: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-2649
Second Energy Drinks events for the general public
After the enthusiasm of the first series of the “Energy Drinks” events in August 2023 in Bern, which gathered around half of the audience coming outside of SWEET EDGE, we will reiterate the experience! These events aim at gathering the public around a drink while listening to several presentations per night on hot energy topics for Switzerland. To make it livelier, games with the public are organized after each presentation and prices are won. The Energy Drinks 2024 will be held in Zurich in Spring.
For more information, keep an eye on our events webpage: https://sweet-edge.ch/en/events
EDGE Biennial Conference was held on 22 August 2023 in Bern
Download the full program
Final Agenda_EDGE biennial conference_22 August 2023_room number.pdf (191.7 KiB)
EDGE organized its first Biennial Conference on 22 August 2023 in Bern, aiming at bridging academia, policy and industry to facilitate the development of networks outside academia and to enable EDGE findings to be communicated. A total of about 110 people attended and the room was full!
Third Evaluation Meeting
We are looking forward to welcoming members of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy and international experts for EDGE third evaluation meeting on 24 and 25 June 2024. We will present EDGE newest advancements and show progress made since the second evaluation meeting in June 2023, taking into account all comments and recommendations made. This will be a great opportunity to reflect on the first three years of the EDGE consortium.
Consortium Meetings in 2024
The EDGE consortium meets twice a year. Our next consortium meeting will be held online on 9 April 2024, and the next one will be held in-person in Lucerne on 22 and 23 August 2024. Consortium meetings are always very nice ways to exchange ideas and reflect on the progress made. Our last in-person consortium meeting was held a day after the biennial conference in Bern on 23 August 2023.
"Zero intervention in the landscape and expansion of renewables. That doesn't work!"
Watch our research partner Isabelle Stadelmann-Steffen's interview following the referendum against the "Mantelerlass", which sets a new target of 35 TWh/year of new renewable electricity by 2035 in Switzerland.
Key takeaways:
- Around 60% of Switzerland's energy is already renewable and produced by hydropower.
- The yes to the "Energy Strategy 2050" in 2017 is a yes to generating the remaining 40% of energy production with "new" renewable energies, specifically solar, hydro and wind power.
- In general, almost all Swiss citizens are in favour of the energy transition, i.e. away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energies, but we face nature and landscape conservation issues for renewable energy projects.
- Our political system gives even very small groups great veto power. The referendum was brought about by a small group, although a large majority was in favour.
- According to various model calculations, it is possible to say "I want almost no wind" or "I want almost no alpine solar systems", but it is not possible to reject everything.
>> Interview << (https://www.plattformj.ch/artikel/216937/)
Three strategies to boost renewable electricity in Switzerland
Download the press release:
Three strategies to boost green electricity in Switzerland.pdf (61.0 KiB)
Carbon neutrality and nuclear phase-out are two key objectives of Swiss energy policy. Achieving them requires a profound and rapid transformation of electricity supply. Supported by the Swiss government’s SWEET programme, the EDGE consortium brings together scientists from the universities of Geneva (UNIGE) and Bern (UNIBE), EPFL and ETH Zurich among other partners.
Using three different computer models, our scientists assessed the capacity to achieve four targets of national green electricity production by 2035. The results show that even the most ambitious targets are realistic. A report has been produced to provide guidance for political decision-makers.
-> Download the full Renewable Energy Outlook for Switzerland
-> Watch the video presenting the three strategies to reach the 35 TWh/year target
EDGE Biennial Conference will be held on 22 August 2023 in Bern
Download the full program
Final Agenda_EDGE biennial conference_22 August 2023_room number.pdf (191.7 KiB)
Download the logistic note
To reach its climate targets and secure its energy supply, Switzerland needs to speed up the deployment of renewable energy technologies. SWEET-EDGE’s objective is to integrate very high shares of decentralized renewable energy into the Swiss energy system. To that end, EDGE is organizing its first Biennial Conference in Bern: a public conference gathering different stakeholders from the industry, policy, associations and administrations.
***** REGISTRATIONS ARE OPEN *****
To participate in the event, please register (mandatory) via the following link:
>> Registration link (mandatory - places are limited, first come first served) <<
Date: 22 August 2023
Time: 9h15 to 16h15 followed by a networking aperitif
Location: Welle 7, Schanzenstrasse 5, 3008 Bern
Energy drinks event in Bern!
EDGE will hold two outreach events in Bern on the evenings of both 21 and 23 August 2023. These events are called "Energy Drinks": you come and have a drink at the bar while listening to four presentations per night on hot energy topics in Switzerland, followed by games, quiz and prices to win!
There will be one topic per night, as follows:
21 August 2023: Does Switzerland really need alpine PV?
Moderator: Nik Zielonka, Universität Genf (UNIGE)
Prof. Michael Lehning, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule in Lausanne (EPFL/WSL)
Prof. Jürg Rohrer, Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften (ZHAW)
Prof. Isabelle Stadelmann, Universität Bern (UniBern)
Dr. Mak Dukan, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETH)
23 August 2023: Can Switzerland become fully renewable by 2050?
Moderator: Prof. Christof Bucher, Berner Fachhochschule (BFH)
Dr. Marius Schwarz, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETH)
Prof. Christof Bucher, Berner Fachhochschule (BFH)
Dr. Gracia Brückmann, Universität Bern (UniBern)
Dr. Serge Biollaz, Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI)
The events will be held at ONO Das Kulturlokal in Bern from 7.00 PM to 9.30 PM. This is a free event and no registration is required but we advise you to come early to secure your spot (6.30 PM).
Language: German
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Fifth newsletter is out!
New video on alpine photovoltaic
Several researchers present their latest work on Swiss alpine solar photovoltaic installations, also frequently called alpine PV.
In this video, we have interviewed our partners according to their area of expertise on alpine PV, as follows:
• Evelina Trutnevyte, Co-leader of the SWEET EDGE programme at the University of Geneva (UNIGE): Do we really need alpine PV in Switzerland?
• Michael Lehning, Co-leader of the SWEET EDGE programme at the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL): What are the technical advantages of alpine PV? Is alpine PV really more efficient? What about the snow cover?
• Varun Sharma, Co-Founder and CEO at SUNWELL: What could an alpine PV project look like?
• Yael Frischholz, Doctoral Student in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL): How does Mutsee work? What research do you do?
• Isabelle Stadelmann-Steffen, Professor of Political Science at the University of Bern (UNIBE): What is the current policy state? Are alpine PV installations acceptable to the general public?
• Mak Dukan, Post-doctoral student in the Climate Finance & Policy (CFP) research group of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich): What about financing alpine PV?
Find out more about the current state of alpine PV in Switzerland and let us know what you think in comments below!
Third in-person Consortium Meeting
Our third in-person EDGE Consortium Meeting will be held on 23 August 2023 at the University of Bern. This will be a great opportunity to exchange ideas and reflect on the past year as well as on discussions made during the first EDGE Biennial Conference of 22 August 2023. We all work together towards a fully renewable Switzerland!
Second Site Visit
EDGE will be very pleased to welcome SFOE members and international experts to Lausanne for its Second Evaluation Meeting on 16 June 2023. We are looking forward to present EDGE newest advancements and show progress made since the first Site Visit in August 2022, where very interesting points were raised and constructive feedback were taken into account. This will be a great opportunity to reflect on the past 2 years of the EDGE project!
EDGE White Paper shows extreme level of fragmentation of rooftop PV policy in Switzerland
This is the first EDGE White Paper on policy and market design for high shares of decentralized renewable energy, authored by Tobias Schmidt (ETH Zurich), Isabelle Stadelmann (University of Bern), and colleagues.
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.
First, the White Paper analyzes the relevant policy designs on federal, cantonal and municipal levels, detecting a strong variety on both the cantonal and municipal level, as well as between distribution grid providers.
Second, it models the effect of this fragmentation on the profitability of PV installations on exemplary building types, finding extreme variance, even within cantons.
Finally, it proposes a strategy to reduce this policy fragmentation while increasing ambition in favor of a targeted harmonization of selected policy instruments to create stronger incentives for accelerated solar PV deployment and to reduce unnecessary barriers.
Access the full White Paper here
Access the Interview about the White Paper:
The EDGE national survey shows some first results
Our EDGE 1-year report has been published on Aramis
The EDGE consortium aims to become the point of reference in Switzerland for integrating very high shares of renewable generation, based on solid scientific work and science-practice collaboration taking the specific settings in cities, midlands and the Alps into consideration. The Aramis 1-year report highlights progress made. This report is available in 4 languages (English, German, French and Italian).
Watch our partner's illustrated video interview!
Discover the great work of Christof BUCHER, Professor of Photovoltaic Systems at the Photovoltaic Laboratory (PV Lab) of the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH). His work mainly focuses on testing PV systems that cannot be tested by the private industry. -> Watch the full video in English here
This video is also available in -> German here
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! -> Read the full Newsletter here.
EDGE First Site Visit was held
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. A total of 36 members were present, including our Advisory Board member Carlos Pereira (Club of Rome) and our Implementation Partner Ingo Herbst (Siemens). The meeting took place in Geneva at Biotech Campus. All partners presented their work and steps forward, in the research fields as well as on the pilot and demonstration projects. What a nice and fruitful way to exchange ideas and work together towards a fully renewable Switzerland!
Good news for solar PV
There is great potential for photovoltaics along national roads. This should be opened up as soon as possible. The Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) makes available areas available free of charge and starts an application process.
FEDRO will start the application process on September 19, 2022. It lasts until February 24, 2023. The focus is on around 350 noise barriers and 100 rest areas. These objects were grouped into 15 lots. Interested parties have the opportunity to apply and, after a lot has been allocated, to plan and implement the photovoltaic system on the corresponding area within a specified time frame. A similar procedure was already carried out in 2018 when allocating locations for fast charging stations at rest areas.
The application documents and further information (incl. visualization tool) are available here: www.astra.admin.ch/photovoltaik
Copyrights: article from the Swiss Federal of Energy's website (https://www.uvek.admin.ch/uvek/de/home/uvek/medien/medienmitteilungen.msg-id-90400.html)
The SWEET EDGE survey has started!
Updates on EDGE P&D project in Wittenbach (WP5)
Our Research Partner Prof. Jürg Rohrer from ZHAW is moving forward with EDGE P&D project in the Swiss midlands (WP 5).
Find the full article in the St. Galler Tagblatt -> full article here [in German]
And listen to the broadcast from radio SRF -> broadcast here [in German]
Our second Newsletter is out !
Welcome to our second SWEET-EDGE quarterly newsletter accessible here. It is a pleasure to keep you updated about our latest news, events, guests and to share articles and ideas with you. All newsletters are now available in three languages: English, German and French. Please choose your preferred language here.
Agro-PV system to grow lamb's lettuce
Welcome our new partners in economics
We are proud to announce the arrival of two new EDGE partners in economics.
Our first partner is Regina Betz, Head of Center for Energy and the Environment (CEE) @ZHAW, working in collaboration with Hannes Weigt from @UniBasel_en.
Our first Youtube Interview is out!
For this first interview video, we were delighted to welcome Annelen Kahl, Co-founder of SUNWELL. Her work focuses on PV production in snow-covered mountains. SUNWELL’s vision is to establish alpine solar energy as a prominent part of the renewable energy landscape. To realize SUNWELL's vision, the team is developing a comprehensive, robust and scalable software platform that combines all the design, planning and operation of alpine solar farms into one tool. SUNWELL's motto: "Best designs faster, and at the lowest cost". Learn more about Annelen Kahl and SUNWELL from our Youtube video.
Our first Newsletter is out !
Welcome to our first SWEET-EDGE quarterly newsletter accessible here. It is a pleasure to keep you updated about our latest news, events, guests and to share articles and ideas with you. Please note that while this first newsletter is in English, the upcoming ones will be available in three languages: English, German and French. Please choose your preferred language here.
Meet our Advisory Board Members !
We are proud to introduce our Advisory Board Members. The Advisory Board will assist and facilitate the decisions made by the Consortium.
It is made of six experts in the field of climate change from various institutions:
Kornelis Blok, Marius Haibel, Julie Lundquist, Gianni Operto, Carlos Alvarez Pereira, Gabriele Spilker.
Good news for the Swiss Alps
The International Mountain Conference of September 2022 IMC2022 aims at gaining insights into initiatives towards climate neutrality in mountains around the world, including in the swiss alps and addressing mountain-specific energy transitions.
"Climate change severely affects mountain regions. The need to develop territorial policies to mitigate climate change, including through energy transitions, is especially relevant given that climate governance is still state-centered and suffers from an “implementation deficit”. Since the inclusion of the Paris Agreement conditions in national political agendas, their implementation at the local level has encountered several obstacles. In mountain areas, bottom-up systematic transition processes that rest upon innovative participative and territorial models of governance can enable and enhance buy-in and cooperation. Mountain regions face a range of energy-pathway choices in the context of accelerated climate change, Nationally Determined Contributions for emissions, and mountain communities’ own development aspirations. This session aims to gain insights into initiatives towards climate neutrality in various mountain regions around the world, discuss key challenges of policy implementation and address mountain-specific energy transitions (solar, wind, geothermal and hydropower, biomass, biochar and other forms of renewable carbon)"
Visit their website for more information.
We are online!
The new website for SWEET EDGE is now online, offering detailed information on the SWEET EDGE goals, the background and the 11 work packages. Also read about the unique concept of the three regions, a specific focus of the project. Research partners, cooperation partners, support partners and the advisory board are all listed.
The website was developed in cooperation with Palmiro Nigro from Digital Art Zurich. Contact us on sweet-edge@unige.ch if you have any questions.
