ETH Zurich and EPFL launch a green energy coalition

ETH Zurich and EPFL want to work with partners from politics, science and industry to push innovative storage and transport solutions for renewable energy carriers. The overall goal is to create a climate-neutral and flexible energy system for Switzerland. Around 20 partners and industrial companies have already voiced their interest in a collaboration. Switzerland is facing a combined energy and climate crisis. To achieve the net-zero target set for 2050 while avoiding an energy shortfall, the country is dependent on renewable energy sources, seasonal storage options and an efficient link to the European electricity market. In addition to pumped-storage power plants, batteries and heat storage systems, synthetic fuels and gases such as hydrogen in particular offer attractive opportunities for storing, transporting and trading cheap electricity from photovoltaic plants in the summer for use later in the winter. Many promising technologies are currently under development but not yet fully operational.