A journalist from Ticino resident in Bern, I write on scientific and social issues with reports, articles, interviews and analysis. I am interested in environmental, climate change and energy issues, as well as migration, development aid and human rights in general.
Around 30% of the electricity produced globally is generated by sunshine, wind, water and other sustainable sources. In the year 2000, this figure stood at 20%. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that by 2050 almost 90% of electricity will be generated from renewable sources.
Switzerland already generates most of the electricity it consumes from renewable energies (75%), mainly via hydroelectric power stations. In recent years there has been an increase in photovoltaics, and to a lesser extent in wind power.
However, the electricity generated by solar and wind power is irregular and varies according to the seasons. Production can exceed demand, especially in summer. One of the main challenges of the energy transition is to develop systems capable of storing excess energy and returning it when it is needed.
Pumped-storage power stations are the most effective and economical solution. They allow water to be pumped to a higher altitude when there is an excess energy, and to release generated electricity when there is a shortage.
In Switzerland there are about 100 reservoirs for hydroelectric production, and about 15 of them have a pumping system. Compared to other Alpine countries, such as Austria, Germany and Italy, Swiss power stations generally have larger water-retention basins and are therefore able to operate over longer periods, notes the Association of Swiss Electricity Companies.
A new pumped-storage power station, one of the most powerful in Europe, came on stream in canton Valais in southern Switzerland in July 2022. This giant “water battery” will help compensate for fluctuations in solar and wind power on the continent.
As the Alpine glaciers slowly melt away, Switzerland will have the opportunity to build new dams and artificial lakes in the mountains. This will increase energy storage capacity in the Alps, strengthening Switzerland’s role as Europe’s "electricity battery".
The Swiss start-up Energy Vault follows the same principle as pumping and turbines. But instead of water, it uses concrete blocks. When there is a surplus of green electricity, these “bricks” are hoisted on top of each other to form a 120-metre tower. They are then “dropped” using gravity to generate electricity. The prototype built in canton Ticino, described below, has already attracted interest abroad.
Surplus electricity can also be converted into liquid or gaseous energy sources. So-called ‘power-to-x’ technologies make it possible to use electricity from a solar power plant or a wind farm to produce hydrogen and then methane, for example. These two elements can be stored for a long time and used as fuels.
Switzerland wants to pave the way for emission-free mobility by replacing fossil fuels with green hydrogen. In 2020, the world’s first fleet of hydrogen commercial trucks became operational and in June 2023, the first hydrogen refueling station on the national motorway network was inaugurated near Bern.
Despite its innovative and entrepreneurial spirit, Switzerland is lagging behind in the race for renewable hydrogen. The country does not yet have a national strategy for hydrogen and in the absence of an energy agreement with the European Union it risks finding itself isolated.
In the future, efficient cost-effective systems will also be needed to handle small amounts of energy quickly and with the least possible environmental impact. Switzerland is taking part in the European research initiative Battery 2030, which aims to improve the longevity and energy density of conventional lithium-ion batteries so that fewer rare metals are used.
Stationary systems that can stockpile renewable energy are also set for massive expansion in the coming decades. Lithium-ion and lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) batteries are already being used to store solar and wind energy produced in homes. Scientists are now exploring alternatives that use zinc, vanadium or sodium, for example, which are proving to be well-suited for stationary storage. But they need to be scaled up to meet rising demand and to become cost competitive.
Empa is one of twelve partners involved in the European SOLSTICE battery project together with Swiss firms FZSONICK and Quantis. Their aim is to develop sodium-zinc molten salt batteries operating at high temperatures that can be used to store energy.
Corsin Battaglia, an expert at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), explains Switzerland’s role: "Whether it''s materials, cell and pack integration, electronics, battery management systems, recycling and mobility or stationary storage, there are lots of companies in Switzerland that are active in the batteries field or even world leaders."
An electronic equipment supermarket in Europe, in response to rising energy costs and environmental pressure, chose to introduce SCU’s commercial and industrial energy storage system, GRES. The spontaneous self-use model of PV + energy storage comprehensively improved energy utilization efficiency and significantly saved energy costs.
This commercial energy storage solution not only provides reliable power support for supermarkets but also brings significant economic benefits, sets an industry benchmark for environmental protection and sustainable operations, and demonstrates the broad scope of green energy in the field of shopping malls and supermarkets. Application prospects.
The successful operation of this industrial and commercial energy storage project provides a powerful demonstration for other companies, proving that commercial energy storage can not only save energy expenses for companies but also help promote the sustainable development of clean energy. As this trend expands, expanding commercial energy storage in Europe will benefit businesses and the environment.
Applying commercial and industrial energy storage in shopping malls, supermarkets and other places has brought significant benefits. Shopping malls and supermarkets have high power consumption, and their lighting, air conditioning, refrigeration and other systems have a huge electricity demand. By deploying energy storage systems, flexible management and scheduling of energy can be achieved, and electric energy can be stored during off-peak hours and released during peak hours, thereby reducing electricity costs and improving energy efficiency.
Shopping malls and supermarkets usually have irregular power demand, and energy storage systems can smooth power fluctuations and ensure a stable power consumption experience. Especially when power demand peaks, energy storage systems can quickly release power to help cope with peak loads and avoid energy waste and rising electricity costs caused by peak power consumption.
Commercial and Industrial energy storage systems also provide backup power for shopping malls and supermarkets. In the event of a sudden power outage or power failure, the energy storage system can be activated quickly to ensure the basic operations of shopping malls and supermarkets and prevent losses caused by power interruptions.
Generally speaking, the application of industrial and commercial energy storage in shopping malls, supermarkets and other places not only provides economic and energy benefits for enterprises but also improves the reliability and sustainability of energy, bringing more stability and reliability to commercial operations. Continuous power protection.
About Berne retail store energy storage
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