Energy
Where should wind turbines be constructed in Switzerland?
Research
ETH Zurich
A study by researchers at ETH Zurich shows for the first time how a relaxation of Swiss spatial planning policy would affect the locations of wind turbines. If the aim is to have as few wind turbines as possible in the Alps and in Switzerland in general, it would be worth considering using windy agricultural areas on the western Swiss Plateau.
How can we secure our gas supply?
Research
PSI
Switzerland has no available fossil gas reserves. It also lacks substantial domestic storage capacities, like those used by Germany. Because of this, geopolitical conflicts and crises can lead to supply shortfalls. Synthetic methane could be a way of getting around this dependency. It can be produced sustainably in Switzerland and fed directly into the existing gas grid.
Energy transition: Bodies of water in conflict between protection and use
Politics
Eawag
The looming energy crisis has increased the pressure to push ahead with the energy transition in Switzerland. The parliamentarians will also debate this issue in the spring session, which is about to begin. The use of water bodies plays an important role here. Two Eawag researchers explain the risks to water systems arising from the use of potential that still exists and how the conflicts are to be assessed.
A greener alternative for aviation fuel
TechTransfer
PSI
Air travel with no carbon footprint: The Paul Scherrer Institute PSI and the Swiss start-up Metafuels are developing a new process for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). They are now collaborating on the construction and operation of the first pilot plant on the PSI campus to validate the technology and prepare it for large-scale commercial deployment in the near future.
Patchwork of issues limits solar expansion
Research
ETH Zurich
Whether rooftop solar panels are worth the cost is largely dependent in Switzerland on local compensation rates for solar power and on electricity prices in general – these are the findings of a study by researchers at ETH Zurich and the University of Bern. Many power grid operators pay too little, thereby limiting the expansion of solar power.
A neuro-chip to manage brain disorders
Research
EPFL
EPFL researchers have combined low-power chip design, machine learning algorithms, and soft implantable electrodes to produce a neural interface that can identify and suppress symptoms of various neurological disorders.
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