MIDLANDS
CITIES
THE ALPS
SWITZERLAND

EDGE

Integrating very high shares of decentralized renewable energy into the Swiss energy system.

EDGE wants to fast-track the growth of locally sourced decentralized renewable energy in Switzerland. The project aims to ensure that by 2035 and 2050, when ambitious shares of renewable energy are reached, the Swiss energy system is designed and operated in a technically and economically optimal and secure way, and that it is well positioned in the European markets.

 

Quantify new national-level scenarios and implementation pathways with high shares of decentralized renewable energy
  • Extend the existing pool of Swiss energy scenarios with an ambitious vision for renewable energy, using models with high temporal and spatial resolution
  • Assess feasibility, limits and implications of decentralized renewable energy generation
  • Analyze the interplay of decentralized and centralized renewable energy generation, storage and transmission grids, including the interconnection with Europe
Design and analyze multi-energy systems with a high share of renewable energy to coordinate region-specific supply, demand, and distribution grids in the three Swiss regions: cities, midlands and Alps
  • In cities, investigate systems with highly concentrated energy demand, building-integrated PV, anthropogenic biomass, district heating grids, etc.
  • In midlands, investigate systems dominated by high but dispersed demand, woody and agricultural biomass, PV, and wind power
  • In the Alps, investigate systems dominated by PV, woody biomass, and wind power
Design and demonstrate typical local renewable energy systems for each region in pilot & demonstration projects.
  • Bridge research with implementation by steering and participating in the construction of pilot & demonstration projects
  • Assess feasibility, limits and performance of such systems and their interaction with existing infrastructure
  • Analyze the behavior and acceptance by consumers and other key actors
Investigate how high shares of decentralized renewable energy can be scaled up and integrated with the existing infrastructures of distribution, transmission, centralized generation and storage
  • Analyze how existing distribution and transformation grids could be adapted to allow the integration of renewable electricity
  • Evaluate optimal niches that could be filled with microgrids
  • Focus on techno-economic efficiency as well as supply security, positioning Switzerland well regarding uncertain developments in the European markets
Evaluate various options for policy, market design and instruments, and other measures to mobilize finance, coordinate key actors, and enable socio-political acceptance
  • Analyze effectiveness and implementation feasibility of various federal, cantonal, and local policies, market instruments and financial aspects among the three regions
  • Analyze different socio-political conditions and policy acceptance
  • Identify ways to minimize new emerging inequalities from the energy transition across various stakeholders
News

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Latest YouTube video on the "Renewable Energy Outlook for Switzerland"

Watch our latest YouTube video explaining in simple words the strategies of the "Renewable Energy Outlook" (REO).


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7th SWEET EDGE newsletter is out !

Discover our lastest news, events, and more!


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New study on the potential for agri-PV in Swiss agriculture

In this new study by ZHAW, a new theoretical total potential of 323 TWh/y for agri-PV in Switzerland was calculated.


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Second Energy Drinks events for the general public

After the enthusiasm of the first series of the “Energy Drinks” events in August 2023 in Bern, we will reiterate the experience! These events aim at gathering the public around a drink while listening to several presentations per night on hot energy topics for Switzerland.


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EDGE Biennial Conference was held on 22 August 2023 in Bern

EDGE organized its first Biennial Conference in Bern on 22 August 2023: a public conference gathering different stakeholders from the industry, policy, associations and administrations, aiming at bridging research with implementation.


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Third Evaluation Meeting

We are looking forward to welcoming members of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy and international experts for EDGE third evaluation meeting on 24 and 25 June 2024.


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Consortium Meetings in 2024

Our next consortium meeting will be held online on 9 April 2024, and the next one will be held in-person in Lucerne on 22 and 23 August 2024.


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 "Zero intervention in the landscape and expansion of renewables. That doesn't work!"

Watch our research partner Isabelle Stadelmann-Steffen's interview following the referendum against the "Mantelerlass", which sets a new target of 35 TWh/year of new renewable electricity by 2035 in Switzerland.


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Three strategies to boost renewable electricity in Switzerland

The Swiss parliament has approved in September 2023 a new set of policy measures on renewable electricity, called the Mantelerlass. It sets a new target of 35 TWh/year of new renewable technologies by 2035. Therefore, the EDGE consortium has defined three strategy options for attaining the new target at minimum cost.


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EDGE Biennial Conference will be held on 22 August 2023 in Bern

EDGE is organizing its first Biennial Conference in Bern: a public conference gathering different stakeholders from the industry, policy, associations and administrations, aiming at bridging research with implementation.


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Successful implementation of the Swiss Energy Strategy 2050 is a mandatory contribution for Switzerland to reach its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. The gap between the greenhouse gas emissions pathways under current policies and the required emissions for carbon neutrality is vast in Switzerland as well as in Europe. Thus, climate change mitigation is a continent-wide challenge that Switzerland must participate in. Climate neutrality in principle requires an almost or fully renewable energy supply in Switzerland, especially exploiting decentralized resources.

Swiss Energy Research for the Energy Transition SWEET

SWEET – "SWiss Energy research for the Energy Transition" – is a funding programme of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE). SWEET’s purpose is to accelerate innovations that are key to implementing Switzerland’s Energy Strategy 2050 and achieving the country’s climate goals. The programme was launched in early 2021 and the funding programme runs until 2032.

SWEET EDGE is a research project sponsored by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy's "SWEET" programme and coordinated by the University of Geneva’s Renewable Energy Systems group and the EPFL Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences