
Charging Regulations Put Residential Buildings Under Pressure to Renovate
The Federal Council wants to grant tenants and condominium owners in residential buildings the right to have the basic infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations installed. For owners and property managers, this would make the expansion of parking facilities, load management, and cost

The Federal Council is reversing its stance on solar energy
Starting January 1, 2027, a new compensation system for solar power fed into the grid will take effect in Switzerland. The decision made by the Federal Council in May 2026 fundamentally changes the rules of the game for thousands of PV operators. Those who have simply generated and fed electricity

Large-scale battery storage to strengthen grid stability and the energy transition
BKW AG has concluded an agreement in principle with Swissgrid for a grid connection capacity of 400 megawatts for its planned large-scale battery plant in Mühleberg. The plant on the site of the decommissioned nuclear power plant is scheduled to go into operation in

Deep geothermal energy is gaining new support from the energy sector
AEW Energie AG has acquired a stake in Geo-Energie Jura SA, thereby bolstering the deep geothermal pilot project in the Haute-Sorne region of the Jura. With this investment, it joins the existing anchor shareholders EBL, ewb and ewz, as well as the participating company Geo-Energie

Lucerne is driving forward its district heating network using energy from the lake
The city of Lucerne and the energy supplier ewl have signed a concession agreement to expand a district heating network. The aim is to boost the city’s heat supply using renewable energy from Lake Lucerne. Lucerne aims to use only renewable energy for heating by

Switzerland regulates data centers
Data centers are the invisible infrastructure of the digital economy. They are booming in Switzerland, but their hunger for electricity, water and building land is growing faster than regulation. Schaffhausen is now one of the first cantons to draw clear boundaries. And it is unlikely to be the

Innovation improves air quality and hygiene in commercial kitchens
Ginox Swiss Kitchen has been granted a European patent for its new double-lip air intake, an innovation incorporated into the PerformAir extractor hood. This technology is designed to improve grease extraction, air intake and hygiene in commercial

Federal Council sees scope for extending the operating life of nuclear power stations
Extending the operating life of the Gösgen and Leibstadt nuclear power stations to 80 years is technically feasible and, in the most likely scenarios, economically viable as well. This is shown in a report adopted by the Federal Council. The retrofitting work would cost between 0.7 and 1.2 billion


Renewable fuel arrives at the construction site
The cleantech company Synhelion has refuelled an excavator with its renewable diesel for the first time. The heavy construction machine, owned by Eberhard Bau AG, is in use at the Brütten Tunnel construction site near Bassersdorf, Zurich, and is reportedly running smoothly

Winterthur is strengthening security of supply with new energy solutions
In the 2025 financial year, Stadtwerk Winterthur generated CHF 36 million, around CHF 10 million more than in the previous year. This is attributed to low temperatures and favourable energy procurement. Meanwhile, the expansion of renewable energy is

When the roof of the car becomes a power station
An electric car that is largely self-powered sounds like a dream of the future. But a European research project is now providing tangible figures. Solar cells integrated directly into vehicles could dramatically reduce the electricity requirements of entire fleets and relieve the strain on the

A clear majority accept wind farms
Three-quarters of St. Gallen’s population would support a wind farm within the city limits. This is shown by a study conducted by the University of St. Gallen. However, opponents reject the idea far more emotionally than supporters endorse it. The fact that the wind turbines are sourced from

Electrolysis rethought
Green hydrogen is seen as the key to the energy transition, but remains expensive to produce. The materials used in electrolyzers in particular drive up costs. Empa researchers are developing coatings that replace precious metals, stop corrosion and can be scaled up in industry. This brings the

The plain that sets the pace in Ticino
Between Bellinzona and Locarno, the Magadino Plain combines moorland, railroad lines, high-voltage power lines and agriculture in a very small area. In August 2025, the federal government and canton presented a coordinated infrastructure plan that shows how energy supply and landscape protection

Energy supplier invests in renewable heat and grid infrastructure
ewl energie wasser luzern posted a profit of 38 million Swiss francs in 2025. Although lower energy prices and reduced sales of natural gas caused total revenue to fall by 3.8 per cent to 374 million Swiss francs, turnover in the heating division rose significantly by 14 per

Regional butcher’s shop focuses on sustainability and short transport routes
Less than a year after it opened, Metzgerhuus is already processing around 30 cattle, 30 calves, 70 pigs and 20 sheep per week. This means that the small butcher's shop has almost reached its full capacity. The animals come from over 300 farms in the Basel

Study shows high regional value creation by energy companies
Zurich-based Hanser Consulting AG has confirmed that the Graubünden-based energy supplier Repower generates more added value for the canton than energy companies outside the canton. The study commissioned by Repower is intended to serve as a basis for discussion for the future hydropower

The grid becomes Switzerland’s bottleneck
Switzerland is building power plants. However, the electricity often does not get to where it is needed quickly enough. The real bottleneck is in the grid. The Energy Committee of the Council of States is now sending a clear signal. Anyone who is serious about the energy transition must renew,

Change of ownership to accelerate growth in the geothermal market
The Alpnach-based investment company Dundee AG has taken over Bohrfix Erdsonden AG with immediate effect. Hans Rosenberger is the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bohrfix Erdsonden AG, while Sascha Jordi takes over the operational management of the

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:
