Carbon Removal . Climate Change . Energy Supply . Storage
From the SCCER to SWEET – Past, present and future of energy research at ETH Zurich
On 14.10.2021 by Gianfranco Guidati, Christian SchaffnerAfter the Fukushima disaster, the Swiss Federation decided to boost energy research in support of the Energy Strategy 2050. Its primary goal was to replace nuclear electricity generation with renewables while maintaining a secure and affordable energy supply. This research was organized by Innosuisse within the eight Swiss Competence Centers for Energy Research (SCCER), which came to an end in 2020. Insights from the SCCER have formed the basis for intensified research in the field of energy from 2021 onwards. The new research programme SWiss Energy research for the Energy Transition (SWEET) launched by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, will take on the challenging and exciting task of carrying forward this research as Switzerland works toward net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. While the SCCERs focused on specific aspects of the energy transition (e.g. grids, heat, supply of electricity), the focus of the SWEET programme is on integrating all these aspects with a holistic and systemic approach.
Buildings . Carbon Removal . Consumer Behavior . Energy Efficiency . Storage
Wooden buildings: a natural carbon sink boosted by modern manufacturing technologies
On 23.06.2021 by Xuqian YanWood is an ancient construction material, but it has been gradually substituted with concrete and steel. However, the advantages of wood are now being (re)discovered as sustainability becomes a global interest and advanced manufacturing technologies become available. This article focuses on its advantages in carbon capture, digital construction, and prefabrication.
Consumer Behavior . Electricity . Smart Energy . Society . Storage
The hitchhiker’s guide to navigating battery misinformation
On 15.02.2021 by Fei WuUnprecedented technological advances, drastic cost declines, and the global transition toward low-carbon infrastructure have made batteries one of the most important technologies of our times. Separating facts about batteries from fiction is vital, especially in a time of rampant misinformation. This guide highlights some of the red flags you should look out for while traversing the seemingly infinite universe of battery information.