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The missing piece: How diverse behaviors shape flexible electric vehicle charging

On 22.03.2023 by Christine Johanna Gschwendtner

In an increasingly decentralized and electrified energy system, electric vehicle (EV) users and their diverse behaviors could both drastically hinder or substantially support current energy transition efforts in many regions globally. The negative or positive effect depends on how users are integrated into the system. The grid risks experiencing high peaks in electricity demand when many EV users charge their vehicles at the same time. Changes in charging behavior that shift charging to other times and places can substantially minimize grid expansion needs and balance electricity demand with variable renewable energy supply. Despite this flexibility potential, behavioral aspects of EV charging are often oversimplified or even neglected in studies and pilot projects. This blogpost discusses how different behaviors can support the integration of EVs and renewable energy. Read More

Why and how to put demand-side flexibility at the heart of the zero-carbon electricity transition

On 16.03.2023 by Christine Johanna Gschwendtner

Electricity systems require more and more flexibility to integrate increasing shares of variable renewable electricity and avoid costly grid expansion. The demand side – involving electricity end-users – will be key in providing relatively cheap flexibility. Looking beyond the technical aspects is crucial to leverage this potential; namely, by addressing social and regulatory challenges. Effective compensation mechanisms for providing flexibility and procurement strategies for different services, particularly at the distribution grid level, need to be established while enabling the participation of small flexibility providers. Read More

Newspapers

Five global energy conversations to follow in 2023

On 07.03.2023 by Leopold Peiseler, Churchill Omondi Agutu, Kate Lonergan

In this blog post, editors Kate, Churchill, and Leopold identify five global energy conversations they will be following in 2023, which they believe will be of interest to you. Check out their picks to stay informed and engaged in these important discussions. Read More

Direct Air Capture
Carbon Removal . Carbon Removal

Diversifying and scaling direct air capture for a net-zero future

On 28.02.2023 by Katrin Sievert

To meet net-zero targets by mid-century, gigatons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year must be removed through direct air capture and storage (DACS). However, current deployment is low, requiring DACS technologies to be deployed at an unprecedented pace. The blog post explores the two most advanced capture methods used in DACS, compares their scalability, and stresses the significance of investing in multiple technologies over the next decade instead of solely relying on existing approaches. Read More

America’s Inflation Reduction Act is asking too much of car manufacturers and electric vehicle supply chains

On 06.12.2022 by Bessie Noll

America’s recently passed climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), provides strong support for accelerated adoption of clean vehicles in the US. Subsidies are generous for consumers looking to go electric, but only for vehicles that meet strict geographic requirements for critical mineral sourcing, battery manufacturing and vehicle assembly. Unabashedly, the US is seeking to shift the EV supply chain from China to North America, but at what cost?—I discuss whether the isolationist IRA is the right move for the US and, more importantly, the climate. Read More

Security of electricity supply: Can the industry sector fix the Swiss winter deficit?

On 28.11.2022 by Marius Schwarz, Lukas Federer

Security of electricity supply and electricity costs have become major business concerns for the Swiss industry sector. On the current trajectory towards a clean energy system, situations in winter with reduced availability of electricity followed by soaring prices may occur more regularly. With Switzerland establishing a strategic reserve to overcome electricity shortage situations, we argue in this blog post that demand-side measures – especially load reductions by industry – should be part of such a reserve, even if the contribution may be small. We present our findings from quantitative assessments and insights from expert interviews. Read More

Tackling the energy crisis in Europe is a common effort

On 23.11.2022 by Jacob Mannhardt

The secret to getting through the energy crisis is that everyone in Europe does their part. And a bit of luck. In this blogpost, we highlight some preliminary results from our investigation of the gas shortage in Europe – because winter is here but Russian gas is not. We model the optimal response to the gas crisis to outline a potential strategy for European countries to get through this daunting situation. Read More

Climate protection benefits the economy

On 07.11.2022 by Anthony Patt

While the economic impacts of climate policy are generally perceived as costs, Anthony Patt proposes the opposite perspective. For Switzerland, converting the energy system and reaching the net-​zero target may net benefit the economy, he finds. Read More

Did you know that access to electricity is not recognized as a universal human right?

On 01.11.2022 by Vanja Djinlev

Electricity consumption is closely and positively related with global economic and human development across different geographical, social, and cultural contexts. As a Sustainable Development Goal (Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy) and as an integral part of the water-energy-food nexus, access to electricity is vital to our individual and collective security and well-being. Despite the importance, access to electricity is not explicitly recognized as a universal human right. This blog article outlines the way to make access to clean, affordable and reliable electricity a universal human right, and explores the practical implications of the action. Read More

Context matters and electrification models should reflect it

On 18.10.2022 by Churchill Omondi Agutu, Florian Manuel Egli

This blogpost discusses a key shortcoming in electrification models used by policymakers and international organizations to chart electricity access pathways in sub-Saharan Africa – unrealistic financing cost assumptions. We highlight why this often overlooked flaw in electrification models could slacken efforts to reach universal electricity access by 2030 and highlight why it matters. Read More

Is there a role for blue hydrogen in a green energy transition?

On 23.09.2022 by Russell McKenna, Anna Peecock, Alfonso Martinez-Felipe

The global energy transition requires a dramatic shift towards renewable and low-carbon energy technologies. Hydrogen is one of these and can be used to store intermittent solar and wind power. As well as being produced from green electricity by electrolysis, it can also be manufactured by capturing and storing carbon dioxide during the conversion of natural gas. This blog article sheds light on the role that these two options of low-carbon hydrogen production could play in the near and far future. Read More

Energy system modeling studies lag behind policy making

On 04.07.2022 by Paula Thimet

Up until now, energy system modeling using bottom-up capacity expansion models has primarily focused on investigating cost-optimal transition pathways of national energy systems. Now that the transition is accelerating, it is time for this modeling community to start investigating the question of “How do we get to net zero?” by focusing more strongly on how policies can accelerate or impede the transition. Read More

Why we should change the way we environmentally assess building retrofits

On 09.05.2022 by Linus Walker

Building retrofits are increasingly assessed from an environmental perspective. Standard assessment methods, however, largely do not consider future developments and fail to take into account the state of climate emergency where the time horizon is substantially shorter than the expected building lifetime. Therefore a more forward-looking analysis is required. Including global warming, electricity decarbonization, and aligning the analysis period with 2050 goals give greater weight to material-based embodied emissions. I, therefore, claim that construction materials are substantially more relevant in the fight against global warming than currently considered in most assessments. Read More

Two key ways Switzerland can promote electricity access and take climate action in low-income countries

On 03.05.2022 by Yael Borofsky, Churchill Omondi Agutu

Earlier this year, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) organised the first International Cooperation Forum in Geneva to address poverty and climate change. We highlight our key takeaways about electricity access from the event. Read More

Making gas network regulation fit for decarbonization

On 22.04.2022 by Paul Waidelich

To meet our global climate targets, the use of gas distribution networks will likely decline over the coming decades in Europe. Current gas price hikes and shifts away from Russian supplies will accelerate this transition. Under current regulation, however, lower network usage leads to increasing network tariffs, and to customers paying for potentially redundant infrastructure. Therefore, we need an honest debate about the future of gas networks, and who will carry the costs if pipelines are decommissioned prematurely. Read More

Cheers to 50 articles! 500 more perhaps?

On 04.04.2022 by Churchill Omondi Agutu, Christine Johanna Gschwendtner

So the Energy Blog @ETH just turned 50 articles old! Writing for the win! To think that an idea that was sparked by an unexpected encounter of students Flo, Yael, Evan & Alejandro, in their early PhD years while at ETH Zurich, what a feat! Through the support of the ETH Energy Science Centre (ESC), the Energy Blog @ETH team, consisting mostly of PhD students, along with professors and ESC staff, has worked to create a space where anyone working in energy at ETH Zurich can showcase their research or give informed opinions on pertinent energy topics of our time.
In this article, we at the Energy Blog @ETH team want to give you a glimpse “behind the curtain” into the inner workings of our team! What is the #ETHEnergyBlog about? And how can you be part of this budding team? Read More

More curse than blessing? Carbon offsetting by planting trees

On 22.03.2022 by Clémence Rüegsegger and Leopold Peiseler

Images of lush forests often carry notions of sustainability and eco-friendliness. But can planting trees be an effective instrument against climate change? Counterintuitively, there are many practical barriers rendering this question difficult to answer. This blog post calls for a public debate on afforestation/reforestation and carbon offsetting. Read More

Energy prices skyrocket in Europe – policymakers must now set the incentives right for the climate

On 16.03.2022 by Florian Manuel Egli

The Russian war on Ukraine has provoked skyrocketing gas prices. High gas prices can help the transition to a renewable energy system, but European decision makers must now consider policies to decrease the price volatility exposure of renewables to safeguard the transition. In an analysis recently published in Nature Energy, we show that such policies can strengthen the political support for long-term carbon prices. Read More

When SDGs conflict: Hydropower, people and the environment

On 11.02.2022 by Fabian Hafner

The deployment of clean and sustainable energy is regarded as a pillar of sustainable global development according to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Counter-intuitively, this goal can sometimes directly interfere with other developmental objectives. Based on a working paper by UN ESCAP about the energy landscape in North and Central Asia, I highlight one of the conflicts that arises within this development – hydropower (SDG7) vs. water access (SDG 6) and food security (SDG2), based on a working paper that quantifies interlinkages between renewable energy use and other indicators contained within the SDGs. Read More

Buildings . Economics & Policy . Energy Efficiency . Heating

Green coalitions’ contradictions – why we need innovative policies for building stock decarbonization

On 05.01.2022 by Ivalin Petkov

Prominent policy initiatives all over the globe are polarizing society for how to govern an increasingly unaffordable building stock in the era of sustainability – even in the quaint city of Basel in traditionally neutral Switzerland. While our readership is primarily concerned with energy and CO₂, here I present an emerging conflict between social and environmental policies in the building sector – primarily due to the silo mentality of (green-leaning) politicians and policymakers. I argue why we need to break down these silos by innovating our current arsenal of policy tools to achieve the broader set of goals. Read More

Battling the boom of large cars: How to increase the adoption of small battery electric vehicles

On 15.12.2021 by Raphael Hörler

Almost every second new car registered is categorized as a sport-utility-vehicle (SUV) or large car in Switzerland, Europe, China and the U.S. This leads to potential problems like increased greenhouse gas emissions and fatal accidents with pedestrians. What are sustainable alternatives and how can we make them appealing to these customers? Read More

Climate Action or Imposed Energy Poverty? The Hypocrisy of COP26 Fossil Fuel International Finance Bans

On 09.12.2021 by Jonah Messinger

By the end of the United Nations (UN) COP26 climate conference, almost forty nations and finance institutions, the vast majority of which are North American or European, agreed to ban public financing for international fossil fuel projects by 2022. Notably, the agreement neglected to apply such measures to the signatory countries themselves. If acted upon, this ban will likely hinder economic growth and cast doubt on aspirations for modernity in much of the developing world. This agreement pins the burden of decarbonization on the very nations least responsible for global warming and in most need of economic development. Read More

Mobility . Society . Transportation

Driving or scooting towards shared mobility: what’s in it for urban dwellers?

On 30.11.2021 by Konstantin Krauss

“I am dependent on my car!” is a statement widely heard in discussions about passenger transport in Germany. But: are you? Or are there some new options out there that could help you get around? Let us find out what these new options are, what they can do for your mobility, and what they can do to reduce our carbon footprint. Read More

Heating . Transportation

Wasserstoff wäre ein Rückschritt

On 25.11.2021 by Anthony Patt

Um die Erderwärmung einzudämmen muss die Welt bis Mitte Jahrhundert aus der fossilen Energie aussteigen. Wir bewegen uns nun in die richtige Richtung. Nahezu alle neuen Investitionen im Energiesektor fliessen in erneuerbare Energiequellen. Batteriebetriebene Elektrofahrzeuge (BEV) werden immer beliebter. Und die meisten neuen Gebäude heizen nicht fossil. Klar gibt es Hürden. Das alles muss schneller gehen, und es braucht eine konsequentere Klimapolitik. Was den Wandel aus meiner Sicht jedoch am stärksten gefährdet, kommt heute als Teil der Lösung «getarnt» daher: Wasserstoff. Read More

Heating . Transportation

Hydrogen won’t help the energy transition

On 25.11.2021 by Anthony Patt

To save the climate, the world needs to stop using fossil fuels by mid-century. We are finally headed in the right direction. Nearly all new power-sector investment is going into renewable energy sources. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are becoming popular. Most new buildings are being built with non-fossil heating systems. The pace of change needs to accelerate, and stronger climate policies are required. Yet one of the most serious threats to all of this is currently masquerading as clean energy’s friend: hydrogen. Read More

Carbon Removal . Climate Change . Energy Supply . Storage

From the SCCER to SWEET – Past, present and future of energy research at ETH Zurich

On 14.10.2021 by Gianfranco Guidati, Christian Schaffner

After the Fukushima disaster, the Swiss Federation decided to boost energy research in support of the Energy Strategy 2050. Its primary goal was to replace nuclear electricity generation with renewables while maintaining a secure and affordable energy supply. This research was organized by Innosuisse within the eight Swiss Competence Centers for Energy Research (SCCER), which came to an end in 2020. Insights from the SCCER have formed the basis for intensified research in the field of energy from 2021 onwards. The new research programme SWiss Energy research for the Energy Transition (SWEET) launched by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, will take on the challenging and exciting task of carrying forward this research as Switzerland works toward net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. While the SCCERs focused on specific aspects of the energy transition (e.g. grids, heat, supply of electricity), the focus of the SWEET programme is on integrating all these aspects with a holistic and systemic approach. Read More

Deep-sea mining for our mobility transition: the quest for sustainable batteries

On 09.07.2021 by Leopold Peiseler

Climate change is pressing and we need fast decarbonisation of all aspects of life. As a multi-purpose technology, batteries play a central role in the reduction of carbon emissions. However, the current supply chain of Lithium-ion batteries is often associated with environmental and social burdens. Thus, some voices are advocating alternative mining: potato-sized rocks, rich in critical metals. The catch? These rocks lie 4000-6000m deep in the oceans and we have little to no idea about this niche ecosystem or the severity of impacts on it if mining were to occur. Read More

Buildings . Carbon Removal . Consumer Behavior . Energy Efficiency . Storage

Wooden buildings: a natural carbon sink boosted by modern manufacturing technologies

On 23.06.2021 by Xuqian Yan

Wood is an ancient construction material, but it has been gradually substituted with concrete and steel. However, the advantages of wood are now being (re)discovered as sustainability becomes a global interest and advanced manufacturing technologies become available. This article focuses on its advantages in carbon capture, digital construction, and prefabrication. Read More

Buildings . Consumer Behavior . Economics & Policy . Energy Efficiency . Heating . Smart Energy

Why old buildings matter – The story of building refurbishments

On 10.06.2021 by Mario Frei

It is estimated that buildings are responsible for 36% of global final energy use and 40% of the energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. Buildings are also complex machines with long life cycles, which include regular maintenance and updates. Thus, buildings and particularly building refurbishments provide manifold and exciting opportunities to address climate change issues at low cost and with (free) co-benefits. Read More

Climate Change . Consumer Behavior . Society

Unser Beitrag zum Klimaschutz – Was können wir selbst und was kann die Schweiz tun?

On 27.05.2021 by Christian Schaffner, Anthony Patt, Marco Mazzotti

Heute ist nationaler Klimatag in der Schweiz. Wir haben nicht mehr viel Zeit, um unsere Klimaziele zu erreichen und den von uns versprochenen Anteil im Kampf gegen die Klimaerwärmung umzusetzen. Aber wir haben bereits heute ganz konkrete Möglichkeiten, einen Beitrag zu leisten. Sei das in der Wahl unseres nächsten Autos, bei der Sanierung unseres Eigenheims, oder bei der Wahl der Feriendestination. Und dabei kann die Schweiz zu einem Vorzeigeland von technisch, wirtschaftlich und auch gesellschaftlich machbaren Lösungen für eine nachhaltige Energieversorgung werden. Packen wir es an! Read More

Climate Change . Consumer Behavior . Society

Our contribution to climate mitigation – What can we do personally and what can Switzerland do?

On 27.05.2021 by Christian Schaffner, Anthony Patt, Marco Mazzotti

Today is National Climate Day in Switzerland. We don’t have much time left to reach our climate goals and to implement our promised share in the fight against global warming – but we already have concrete ways to contribute today! Be it in the choice of our next car, the refurbishment of our own home, or the choice of our vacation destination. Switzerland could become a showcase country for technically, economically and socially feasible solutions for a sustainable energy supply. Let’s do it! Read More

Buildings . Climate Change . Consumer Behavior . Economics & Policy . Heating . Smart Energy . Society

Keeping it cool in Switzerland: The critical impact of air-conditioning uptake

On 11.05.2021 by Robin Mutschler, Philipp Heer, Sven Eggimann, Martin Ruedisueli

Today, only a minority of Swiss households have air conditioners installed for cooling. This might change due to the warming climate and the growing integration of heat pumps to new buildings, which can be used for heating and cooling. The Swiss cooling energy demand may reach a similar order of magnitude compared to the heating demand by mid-century onwards, which could have a significant impact on the energy system. Read More

Economics & Policy . Energy Supply . Society

Why we need net-zero emissions scenarios for mid-century

On 27.04.2021 by Gianfranco Guidati

Our goal is not to predict the future, rather to shape it. Net-zero scenarios for the energy system help us do that. Although they deliver only a blurred view of the future, they allow us to guess the shape of things to come, and most importantly to formulate actions for today that will put us on the right track. Read More

Carbon Removal . Consumer Behavior . Economics & Policy . Energy Supply . Society

Let’s pay more attention to the co-benefits of Switzerland’s decarbonization targets

On 19.04.2021 by Massimo Filippini, Florian Landis, Gustav Fredriksson, Jonas Savelsberg

To help keep global warming in check, Switzerland has committed to a net-zero emissions target by the mid-century. The required energy transition will likely give rise to costs, but it will also yield large co-benefits in terms of, for instance, improved health outcomes from less pollution. These benefits from the energy transition are, however, often overlooked. We argue that to take sound decisions related to the energy transition, it is important to consider all the associated costs as well as benefits. Read More

The role of seasonal energy storage in decarbonizing the energy system

On 12.04.2021 by Ivalin Petkov, Paolo Gabrielli

Energy storage is required to reliably and sustainably integrate renewable energy into the energy system. Diverse storage technology options are necessary to deal with the variability of energy generation and demand at different time scales, ranging from mere seconds to seasonal shifts. However, only a few technologies are capable of offsetting the long-term (seasonal) mismatch between renewable generation and energy demand. Here we outline the role and potential of seasonal energy storage to decarbonize the energy system. Read More

Society . Uncategorized

A voice from exile – Life after Fukushima

On 07.04.2021 by Bessie Noll

Futaba, host of the Fukushima prefecture TEPCO Daiichi nuclear power plant, was evacuated in March, 2011. It has since remained empty. Only recently reopened to the public, Futaba now resembles that of a forgotten ghost town, waiting quietly for life to resume. For Matsueda Atsushi, a once proud Futaba resident, a return home is ridden with doubt and unease. Read More

Climate Change . Consumer Behavior . Economics & Policy

福島から10年後 – When institutional incumbents hinder energy transitions: Japan’s energy story

On 29.03.2021 by Bessie Noll

Bessie is a PhD student in the Energy Politics Group at ETH Zurich studying the transport transition. As part of a mid-PhD internship with the Schweizerische Energie-Stiftung (SES), she travelled to Japan in January 2021 to research and report on the 10-year anniversary of the Fukushima disaster of 2011. A more detailed reporting as part of the SES project can be found here. Read More

Climate Change . Consumer Behavior . Economics & Policy . Society

Embracing globalization to foster the energy transition

On 02.03.2021 by Xuqian Yan

Globalization could benefit the energy transition in many ways. Inevitably, however, some factors might hinder the process, such as resistance from the current beneficiaries and concerns for energy security. With an empathetic mindset and willingness to find win-win solutions, we could hopefully solve the issues and fully utilize the power of globalization to foster the energy transition. Read More

Consumer Behavior . Electricity . Smart Energy . Society . Storage

The hitchhiker’s guide to navigating battery misinformation

On 15.02.2021 by Varun Duggal

Unprecedented technological advances, drastic cost declines, and the global transition toward low-carbon infrastructure have made batteries one of the most important technologies of our times. Separating facts about batteries from fiction is vital, especially in a time of rampant misinformation. This guide highlights some of the red flags you should look out for while traversing the seemingly infinite universe of battery information. Read More

Climate Change . Consumer Behavior . Society

Promoting renewable energy sources in Greece: the need for change and the obstacles along the way

On 05.02.2021 by Aimilia Pattakou

Climate change urges every country to take action. Greece has decided to phase-out lignite, a key fuel in its energy mix, and increase the installed capacity of renewable energy sources. Citizens often oppose new renewable energy investments, like new wind farms. What can the Greek government do to ease this transition? Read More

Climate Change . Consumer Behavior . Electricity . Energy Efficiency . Smart Energy . Society . Transportation

Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and car sharing: Joining forces to decarbonize electricity and transport?

On 25.01.2021 by Christine Johanna Gschwendtner

How can we couple future developments in the electricity and transport systems to support decarbonization? Combining Vehicle-to-Grid and car sharing could foster both innovations and achieve synergies in decarbonizing both sectors. Read More

Climate Change . Industry decarbonization . Mobility . Society . Transportation

Why electric vehicles are more sustainable than you might think

On 12.01.2021 by Martin Beuse

Despite the recent flood of (non-academic) studies claiming differently, battery-powered electric vehicles (BEV) already provide significant environmental benefits over internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. This gap is only widening, as policy, academia, and industry are coming together to rapidly improve BEVs and battery technology in particular. Read More

Climate Change . Consumer Behavior . Economics & Policy . Electricity . Energy Supply . Smart Energy . Society . Transportation

When computational models can evaluate the impact of policies objectively, why are they rarely used in public policymaking?

On 14.12.2020 by Marius Schwarz

What should the future Swiss energy system look like? How can nuclear power be replaced? Will we have enough electricity on days where no sun is shining, no wind is blowing, and heating demand is high? Without clear answers, the discussion on the future Swiss energy system becomes bipartisan and emotional. Computational models can provide answers, facilitating a discussion less driven by subjective impressions but rather by profound technical analysis. Read More

Buildings . Climate Change . Energy Efficiency . Smart Energy

How smart grids will change the way architects have to design buildings

On 30.11.2020 by Christoph Waibel

In order to efficiently integrate intermittent renewable energy into our grids, we need to change the role that buildings play in a city. Instead of being mere consumers, they need to become a swarm of smart prosumers capable of stabilizing the grid. This calls for a new way how architects should design buildings, leading to the next era of architecture: “Energy Responsivism”. Read More

Climate Change . Electricity . Society . Transportation

Promoting adoption of electric motorcycles in Nepal: Challenges and Opportunities

On 17.11.2020 by Nilkanth Kumar

Kathmandu’s stark air pollution and limited public transport infrastructure poses a challenge towards achieving sustainable and adequate transport. Motorcycles are the most sought after mode of private mobility in Nepal. Electric motorcycles appear to be a viable and promising solution, but several technological, market and behavioural factors hinder their higher adoption. Read More

Climate Change . Consumer Behavior . Economics & Policy . Energy Efficiency . Society . Transportation

Beyond more Chargers for Electric Vehicles in Zurich

On 10.11.2020 by Gracia Brückmann

The conventional wisdom is that to increase battery electric vehicle (BEV) uptake, we need more charging points. However, when we spoke with citizens, car dealership representatives, representatives from car import companies, and local government about the challenges and opportunities for BEVs in Zurich, they mention different challenges, too, and present solutions to overcome them e.g., including BEVs in coherent sustainable transport systems and reducing political uncertainty. Read More

Electricity . Energy Supply

Accelerating the energy transition in developing countries: Inclusion of women in clean energy strategies

On 16.10.2020 by Cristina de los Angeles Dominguez Hernandez

In rural communities, women are the primary energy users as they are the ones performing household chores such as cooking and domestic work. For this reason, they are the most affected along with children from the use of highly-pollutant conventional fuels. Ironically, most of the time they are excluded from clean energy strategies targeted toward transitioning to clean fuels. My research has shown that gender focused initiatives targeting women can play a major role in accelerating this transition to affordable, safe, and reliable energy. Read More

Buildings . Consumer Behavior . Energy Efficiency . Energy Supply . Smart Energy . Society

Data exchange via virtual assistants is key to unlocking the full potential of the future energy system

On 01.10.2020 by Matthias Sulzer

Connecting buildings to a cross-sectoral, decentralized energy system is a proven means of integrating more renewable energy sources and further increasing energy efficiency. However, the operation of such highly interconnected energy systems is becoming painstaking. Data and algorithms will be the key to overcome these pains and to unlock the innovative systems’ full potential. Read More

Consumer Behavior . Electricity . Society . Transportation

Charging Stations in Public Parking Spaces: Case Study from Zurich’s Blue Zones

On 16.09.2020 by Ahmad Al Mugharbil

Although electric mobility has established itself commercially, lack of convenient charging infrastructure remains one of the most substantial barriers for buying an electric vehicle, from a customer’s point of view. This is especially the case for people that park their vehicles in public parking zones. This case study from Zurich’s Blue Zones discusses the techno-economic considerations policymakers need to know about investing on public charging infrastructure. Read More

Economics & Policy . Electricity . Energy Supply

Building Resilience to the Next Pandemic: The “Power” of sub-Saharan Africa’s Off-grid Electricity Sector

On 13.07.2020 by Churchill Omondi Agutu

In the wake of the current global pandemic, building resilience to future pandemics will be on the minds of many policymakers going forward. For sub-Saharan Africa, linking electrification with essential services such as healthcare, clean water and sanitation, could do double duty by expanding electricity access and making these countries more resilient to COVID-19. Read More

Economics & Policy . Electricity . Energy Supply

Navigating towards the future of renewable energy markets

On 08.07.2020 by Maciej Szybiak

The past decade was undoubtedly a great period for renewable energy (RE) sector. In 2019 alone, the total investment in RE projects worldwide amounted to over USD 250 billion, what equals one-third of the Swiss GDP or construction of 170 Wembley stadiums. However, investing is just the first element in the business puzzle. The question now is how to make RE projects profitable or at least non loss-making. Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) seem to be a promising systematic solution Read More

Consumer Behavior . Electricity . Energy Supply . Smart Energy

Jointly owned PV should be the new solar ownership model / Gemeinschaftliches Eigentum: der neue Ansatz für Photovoltaikanlagen in der Nachbarschaft

On 26.06.2020 by Danielle Griego

As societies transition from using predominantly centralized energy supply sources to increasing dependency on distributed renewable energy generation, it is no longer enough to singularly focus on energy efficiency. In particular, the time sensitivity of electricity generated from solar and wind must also become an integral part of future electric consumption behavior patterns. In this article, I outline how joint ownership of community-scale PV systems have vast potential to establish long-term and intelligent electricity consumption behavior patterns among co-owners. Read More

Climate Change . Energy Supply

Coal phase-out: Conflictive but unavoidable

On 12.06.2020 by jmarkard@ethz.ch

Phasing-out carbon-intensive technologies and business models is a key element for deep decarbonization. Coal is a prime candidate for phase-out and we cannot waste any time. However, every industry decline creates conflicts. Overcoming these conflicts is the key to success. Read More

Electricity

Why we need responsive policies to achieve a rapid energy transition

On 31.05.2020 by Alejandro Nunez-Jimenez

Because we are bad at predicting, slow at changing policies, and the stakes are too high. Responsive policies can help to overcome these limitations. Read More

Climate Change . Society

Climate and energy policy after COVID-19

On 18.05.2020 by Massimo Filippini

The health emergency caused by COVID-19 has taught us that we are all vulnerable, albeit unequally (geographically, generationally, socio-economically and psycho-socially) to global crises, that the political world and civil society can quickly adapt to a common threat, both with drastic and timely regulations and with recommendations. We have learned that prevention and cooperation at the international level, between civil society and the political world, are essential to limit the damage. These lessons should make us understand that the political agenda on climate change needs also to be strengthened, not weakened. Read More

Climate Change . Industry decarbonization . Transportation

Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Pathways to achieve Net-Zero Carbon Shipping

On 05.05.2020 by Christina Nakhle

The time has come to implement the “pollutant pays” principle, set clear emission reduction targets and competitive incentives to enable the decarbonization of the “backbone of our economy”. Read More

Climate Change . Electricity . Energy Supply . Society

The long way ahead for the energy transition

On 22.04.2020 by Viktoras Kulionis

Concerns about the consequences of excessive global warming have increased interest in the energy transition. General belief is that the energy transition has been the dominant factor of the increased use of renewable energy. However, only few countries/regions show evidence of an actual energy transition. At the global level, its relevance is short of non-existent when you do the math. Read More

Electricity . Energy Supply . Society

Electrifying Rwanda: Why mini-grid companies have lost the game

On 07.04.2020 by Churchill Omondi Agutu

Rwanda’s goal to reach 100% electrification by 2024 relies heavily on off-grid electricity systems, like solar home systems and mini-grids. Based on my recent field research, this will be a tall order for burgeoning solar home system and, especially, mini-grid companies, who face a number of challenges to scale. Read More

Climate Change . Society

COVID-19 stimulus packages represent a critical juncture for climate policy

On 02.04.2020 by Nicolas Schmid

Governments around the world have implemented strong, science-based measures against the spread of COVID-19, ranging from border closures to the lockdown of approximately one-third of the world population. As a result, economic activity of most sectors and countries abruptly and strongly decreased. To prevent a global economic and social crisis, governments around the world have proposed massive stimulus programs. Read More

Electricity . Energy Supply

Switzerland’s strategy will not deliver the solar power it needs. Here’s why. / Die Strategie des Bundesrats wird die benötige Solarenergie nicht liefern. Die Gründe warum.

On 17.02.2020 by Léonore Hälg

The Swiss federal council proposes to support large-scale solar PV with competitive auctions for one-off investment grants. This will not scale up solar PV investment to the extent necessary to reach the Swiss climate and energy targets. I offer suggestions on how to improve the proposal. Read More

Buildings . Electricity . Energy Supply

Photovoltaics on Buildings – Ugly and Expensive or an Opportunity for Creative Design?

On 01.02.2020 by Linus Walker

The integration of solar energy technologies in buildings has been available for several decades. However, many buildings are still built without any PV or solar thermal collectors, which in my opinion is an intolerable situation. Read More

Consumer Behavior . Electricity . Energy Efficiency . Heating . Society

How energy efficient is your daily life?

On 20.01.2020 by Valentina Stampi-Bombelli

Have you ever stopped to think about the power consumption of the activities of your daily life? Do you think you can guess the power consumption of each device? Try sorting the power consumption of each device that runs on electricity, and then have fun scrolling on the images of each room below to find out if you guessed correctly! Read More

Carbon Removal . Climate Change . Industry decarbonization

Concrete – the building material of a 1.5°C world?

On 22.12.2019 by Johannes Tiefenthaler

Bridges, tunnels, buildings – concrete plays a key role in our daily life. How is it manufactured? Can it be recycled? What is its climate impact? Read on and you’ll find out how we can decarbonize concrete. Read More

Energy Efficiency . Society

Can randomized field experiments help close the energy efficiency gap? / Können randomisierte Feldstudien helfen, die Energieeffizienzlücke zu schliessen?

On 05.12.2019 by Nina Boogen

Some time ago economists appropriated a method from medical research called randomized controlled trials, which has become the “golden standard” to detect causal effects of a policy intervention. Could they also assist in closing the energy efficiency gap? In this blog article, I argue why they could, but also why they are not a universal remedy. Read More

Buildings . Energy Efficiency . Heating

Retrofitting for good: insights from the Swiss Household Energy Demand Survey

On 25.11.2019 by Anna Stünzi

Findings from the Swiss Household and Energy Demand Survey shed new light on the willingness to live in a more energy-efficient building. Most surprisingly: more than 50% of the participating tenants would accept a higher rent increase than the expected savings from their energy bills after the renovation. Read More

Electricity . Energy Supply

Understanding the Scale of Back-up Generation in the Developing World

On 06.11.2019 by Yael Borofsky

Thanks to unreliable electricity grids, fossil-fuel powered generators in low- and middle-income countries constitute as much generation capacity as up to 1,000 coal-fired plants, finds a new report from the IFC and the Schatz Energy Research Center. That sounds bad for the climate and public health, but generators also help people stay out of poverty… Read More

Climate Change . Electricity . Energy Efficiency . Heating

Natural gas: a bridge fuel to nowhere

On 20.10.2019 by Ivalin Petkov

Why we have already ‘crossed the bridge’, necessitating a phase-out and heavy divestment from natural gas. The solutions are reliable, cost-competitive, and ready – decarbonized renewable energy sources with storage. Read More

Consumer Behavior . Electricity

Cheap solar alone would not prevent a renewable energy gap

On 06.10.2019 by Alejandro Nunez-Jimenez

The energy-efficiency gap describes how firms and individuals underinvest in profitable energy-saving technologies.

Will there be a similar gap for investments in renewables? Read More

Society

Energy: It’s everywhere, yet we don’t talk about it

On 24.09.2019 by Florian Manuel Egli

Welcome! You have found the Energy Blog @ ETH, a newly founded initiative to foster a debate around energy research and policy. We know there is fascinating work coming out of ETH Zurich, but often the work is very specific and its implications for society, policymakers, and individuals do not easily get across. Given the unprecedented challenges to transform our energy system, academic ivory towers do not work. We are here to break them up and mix science with policy and society. Read More

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  • America’s Inflation Reduction Act is asking too much of car manufacturers and electric vehicle supply chains

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