
Takeover strengthens position in the European energy market
BKW is strengthening its position on the French energy market with the acquisition of Volterres SAS. The transaction serves to strengthen its position on the French energy market, which is a central component of the Solutions 2030 sustainability

Management change in the energy division of a large utility company
Vertina Investment Foundation is investing fresh capital in four new-build projects in the first quarter of 2026. Their completion will increase the total portfolio value of the Vertina Residential investment group from CHF 219 million to CHF 350 million within one


Electric bus marks a new chapter in regional transport
STI Bus AG has put its first electric bus into service. It is currently operating in Grindelwald. Three more electric buses are set to follow there by the end of the year, with a further two in Thun. By 2036, the entire STI fleet, comprising over 100 regular service vehicles, is set to be

Modernised wastewater treatment plant enhances water protection and energy efficiency
The ARA Basel was officially opened on 17 April 2026. Following the refurbishment and expansion work that began in 2019 and has now been completed, it is one of the most modern wastewater treatment plants in Europe. It will open its doors to the public on 18 and 19

Energy cooperative strengthens its brand and increases investment
The delegates have decided to rename the former Elektra Birseck (EBM) cooperative as Primeo Energie Cooperative. This marks the final completion of the transition from EBM to Primeo Energie. They also doubled the contribution to the energy fund to 4 million Swiss

Investment secures funding for a major wind energy project
The energy producer aventron AG is investing in the Sur Grati wind farm in the canton of Vaud. The project is being carried out in collaboration with regional partners and is scheduled to come online at the end of 2027. This investment marks the completion of the financing and shareholder

Ticino economic area between energy, housing and investment
The 108th immoTable Ticino in Savosa showed the extent to which the Ticino economic region is changing in the area of tension between energy, housing and investment. New energy concepts for real estate, the future of affordable housing and the question of how Ticino can become more attractive and

Solar cells that camouflage themselves
A butterfly has given researchers at Fraunhofer ISE the decisive clue. Solar modules that look like brickwork, roof tiles or individually designed façade elements and generate electricity with almost no loss of power. The new "ShadeCut" technology could resolve a long-standing point of contention:

District heating from wastewater to decarbonise the municipality
The energy company CKW is awarded the contract for the project planning of the planned district heating network in Richterswil. CKW is now aiming for a long-term partnership to decarbonise the municipality. The next steps will be announced in autumn


Lucerne cantonal government plans to set up a foundation for innovation
The Lucerne Cantonal Government has requested a special grant of 24 million Swiss francs from the Cantonal Assembly for the proposed Lucerne Innovation Foundation. The canton aims to use this to boost its competitiveness and support SMEs and start-ups in implementing innovative

Schlieren is modernising its maintenance depot
The town of Schlieren is renovating its maintenance depot to ensure its long-term operation. Key parts of the facility have exceeded their service life, making modernisation necessary. Furthermore, the current site no longer complies with fire safety and occupational health and safety

Energy supplier boosts profits despite lower turnover
In 2025, the AEW Group generated total revenue of CHF 833 million, 4.2 per cent less than in the previous year. At CHF 131 million, the operating profit was CHF 24 million higher than in the previous year, thanks to one-off effects. The Group invested CHF 94

Winter electricity from the Alps is performing above average
The Madrisa Solar alpine solar power plant generated 1.5 gigawatt hours more electricity than forecast during the first half of the winter. The plant supplied more energy to the Klosters-Madrisa mountain railways than was required for their operation. The next phase of construction will begin in

Railway station heating plant switched to wood pellets
Industrielle Werke Basel (IWB) has successfully tested the new wood pellet system at the Bahnhof heating plant. Thanks to the switch from natural gas to wood pellets for the production of district heating, 23,000 tonnes of CO2 will be saved. The Volta district heating plant will be the next to be

Hydropower project on the Grimsel enters the implementation phase
Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG (KWO) will begin construction of the new Grimsel 4 pumped-storage plant in June. The underground facility is designed to enable the flexible use of the water stored in Lake Räterichsboden and Lake Grimsel. KWO is investing 300 million Swiss francs in the

Municipal energy supplier is systematically expanding its infrastructure and district heating network
The Zurich City Electricity Works (ewz) posted a profit of CHF 303 million on turnover of CHF 1.44 billion in 2025. During the year under review, the energy supplier invested CHF 244 million in networks, power stations and shareholdings. In addition, the ERZ district heating network was

Winterthur is turning to solar power from the local area
Seven out of ten households in Winterthur currently have access to solar power from their local area. This is provided by 155 local communities, which bring together 535 of the 2,500 solar installations in Winterthur. The federal government supports local consumption by offering a

Start-up is driving the electrification of industrial processes
The start-up SolidWatts has secured CHF 1.8 million in seed funding from Swiss and European investors. This will accelerate the development and market launch of its solid-state high-frequency technology, which provides fossil-free process heat to energy-intensive

The City of Biel believes it is on track to meet its climate targets despite the obstacles
The city of Biel is well on its way to becoming climate-neutral in its administrative operations by 2040 and across the entire city by 2050. However, to achieve these goals in the long term, public participation is becoming increasingly

Zurich Soft Robotics installs a Solskin façade on the KELLER Diamant building
Zurich Soft Robotics GmbH is carrying out its largest project to date using its Solskin façade technology. An adaptive building envelope comprising 3,500 modules covering 1,300 square metres has been installed on the KELLER Diamant building in Winterthur. The façade combines dynamic shading with

Strategic reorientation with a focus on energy and technology
Margarita Aleksieva will take over as Head of BKW's Energy Production division at the beginning of April. She will also be promoted to the Group Executive Board. The current Head of Wind & Solar at the Bern-based energy supplier will follow in the footsteps of Philipp

Hydrogen can do a lot, but not everything
Hydrogen is supposed to heat houses, power cars and save industry. That sounds like a simple solution to a complex problem. The Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research has now evaluated more than 100 studies and the result is clear: hydrogen is not a panacea, but a targeted tool.

Largest solar power plant in the canton of Zurich goes into operation
The Zurich Cantonal Electricity Board (EKZ) has installed a solar power plant on the roofs of the Embraport with a total capacity of up to 4.5 megawatts. A further 1 megawatt and a large-scale battery are in the planning stage. The plant is operated and maintained by

Aargau Verkehr is relying on its own electricity supply for its electric buses
Aargau Verkehr AG has installed a solar power system at the bus depot in Fahrwangen in collaboration with AEW Energie AG. The system has been generating solar power since March. It is expected to be fully operational by the time the new electric buses are launched in October



