Heat storage in the deep

The building site in Dübendorf. Image: Empa - In Dübendorf, Empa is currently building a new, future-oriented research campus, co-operate, where groundbreaking research is conducted - and which is itself an object of research. The new, future-oriented research campus, co-operate, in Dübendorf, is itself an object of research. This is because an experimental, seasonal energy storage facility is being built under the site, which will supply energy not only to the new buildings but to the entire Empa campus. In summer, for example, the waste heat from ventilation systems and laboratory equipment will be stored to be used in winter for heating or for the production of domestic hot water. The aim is to either use around 90% of waste heat directly or to store it temporarily in the ground storage facility. In this way, Empa aims to reduce the CO₂ emissions of its buildings to a minimum and thus make a huge step towards a sustainable energy future.