Axpo commissioned its BESS in February this year while utility Thurplus commissioned a 3MW system in September last year. But Switzerland was the location for one of the largest energy storage projects commissioned in recent years, a 20GWh pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) unit which started operations in June 2022 in the Canton of Valais.
With its hydroelectric power plants in the Alps and innovative projects, Switzerland is contributing to the search for solutions for the efficient, long-term storage of electricity. A journalist from Ticino resident in Bern, I write on scientific and social issues with reports, articles, interviews and analysis.
The global challenge is not only to produce more energy from renewable sources, but also to be able to store it. With its hydroelectric power plants in the Alps and innovative projects, Switzerland is contributing to the search for solutions for the efficient, long-term storage of electricity.
It is being monetised in the Swiss electricity market by both CKW, part of Axpo, and utility Alpiq, the announcement said. The BESS is part of a network of power plants, consumers and batteries, it added. The large-scale BESS market in Switzerland has been relatively quiet with renewable penetration on the country’s grid still relatively low.
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.
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”.
Why storage is the Swiss Army knife of energy transition
Aiming for 600GW energy storage capacity by 2050 in the EU. Also, power generation is becoming more and more decentralised while energy demand rises – and that also requires flexible energy storage. Finally, sector coupling – transferring energy to other economic sectors – depends on expanding energy storage. All that explains why this ...
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Swiss solutions for storing the energy of tomorrow
Sep 3, 2021 A new pumped-storage and turbine plant in Switzerland could give a significant boost to the development of renewable energies in Europe. As the Alpine glaciers …
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Switzerland: EWS and MW Storage expand battery unit …
Utility EWS AG and developer MW Storage have completed the expansion of a battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Switzerland from 20MW to 28MW, making it the country''s largest. The companies inaugurated …
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The role of energy storage technologies in the context of the Swiss ...
The objective of the proposed research project is to address this gap by performing a holistic investigation of the role of competing and/or complementary electric, thermal and chemical …
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Energy storage innovation in Switzerland: a potential to …
For the first time, a pilot project called Alacaes is developing a new system that stores electricity in the form of compressed air in the Swiss Alps, with the support of the Swiss Energy Ministry. The role of energy storage innovation is crucial in the development of renewable energy because as the sun and wind do not generate energy on a ...
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· Swiss Energy Storage Overview by BFH-CSEM Energy Storage …
Energy storage is rapidly become more and more relevant due to the increasing renewable energy fraction in the grid, the rise of photovoltaics and the increase in electric cars. This website aims to give an overview of the energy storage situation in Switzerland. It was created as part of an BFE project.
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The role of energy storage technologies in the context of the Swiss ...
The objective of the proposed research project is to address this gap by performing a holistic investigation of the role of competing and/or complementary electric, thermal and chemical energy storage technologies in achieving greater penetration of renewable energy technologies and more efficient and effective use of energy in the context of ...
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Switzerland: EWS and MW Storage expand battery unit to 28MW
Utility EWS AG and developer MW Storage have completed the expansion of a battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Switzerland from 20MW to 28MW, making it the country''s largest. The companies inaugurated the newly expanded project last week in a ceremony last week (24 May), which adds 8MW to a 20MW/18MWh BESS that MW Storage ...
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Des solutions suisses pour stocker l''énergie de demain
Les systèmes de pompage et de turbinage constituent la solution la plus efficace et la plus économique. Ils permettent de pomper l''eau en amont lorsqu''il y a surproduction d''énergie et de la...
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Switzerland: the rise of utility-scale energy storage technologies
As current leads, lithium-ion batteries for energy storage are being increasingly used in large-scale projects, such as Tesla''s ''Megapack'' or the alliance between Samsung and ABB in view …
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Developing Energy Storage Applications for Next Generation
Energy storage can be accomplished through the storage of internal energy (U), potential energy (PE), or kinetic energy (KE). The storage process primarily involves three essential steps, namely charging, storing, and discharging. These processes are orchestrated by a series of energy converters, storage devices, and peripheral systems, which collectively …
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SUSI Partners'' PV platform ReFeel New Energy expands to BESS
Swiss investment fund manager SUSI Partners has expanded the remit of its Italian solar PV platform ReFeel New Energy to develop utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS). SUSI Partners said the expansion was based on the growth of the broader ReFeel New Energy team and the progress of its solar PV business. Currently, over 375MW of ...
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Gravity Energy Storage Will Show Its Potential in 2021
Gravity Power and its competitor New Energy Let''s Go, which acquired its technology from the now bankrupt Heindl Energy, are also looking underground for energy storage, but they are more closely ...
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Switzerland: the rise of utility-scale energy storage technologies
As current leads, lithium-ion batteries for energy storage are being increasingly used in large-scale projects, such as Tesla''s ''Megapack'' or the alliance between Samsung and ABB in view of a joint development and sale of energy storage solutions using the Samsung''s lithium-ion batteries and ABB''s electronic components, therefore driving innovat...
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Swiss solutions for storing the energy of tomorrow
Sep 3, 2021 A new pumped-storage and turbine plant in Switzerland could give a significant boost to the development of renewable energies in Europe. As the Alpine glaciers slowly melt away,...
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Applications for Energy Storage Systems
Our second-life energy storage systems set a new standard for safety and reliability. Built-in energy management software makes remote monitoring, control, and analytics simpler than ever. With a storage capacity of up to 60 MwH and guaranteed immediate delivery, we are the most trusted Swiss partner for energy suppliers.
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Thermal energy storage
If the thermal storage tank is large enough, heat can also be stored seasonally. With seasonal heat storage, unavoidable waste heat from waste incineration, from cooling applications and other industrial processes can be retained. Even surplus heat generated in summer from solar energy or deep geothermal energy can be stored. In this way, the ...
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About | Swissstes
SwissSTES aims to reduce Switzerland''s dependency on fossil fuels by pioneering seasonal thermal energy storage (STES) to become a net-zero carbon society. An interdisciplinary consortium develops and assesses novel STES …
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· Swiss Energy Storage Overview by BFH-CSEM Energy …
Energy storage is rapidly become more and more relevant due to the increasing renewable energy fraction in the grid, the rise of photovoltaics and the increase in electric cars. This website aims to give an overview of the energy storage …
Learn More
About | Swissstes
SwissSTES aims to reduce Switzerland''s dependency on fossil fuels by pioneering seasonal thermal energy storage (STES) to become a net-zero carbon society. An interdisciplinary consortium develops and assesses novel STES technologies and proposes a systemic STES action and implementation plan.
Learn More
