Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW)

18 Oct Renewable energies – Challenges along the way towards total supply

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Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW)
2011
Theoretically, renewable energies in Switzerland have sufficient potential to cover national demand. As yet, however, they play only a subordinate role. There is a need for research and development to lower costs. Wind and solar energy have the disadvantage that they are not continuously available. This situation needs to be remedied through technical conversion and storage processes such as pumped-storage power plants or new types of battery. The development and above all expansion of the use of renewable energies are not just technical and economic matters but also require the cooperation of society. Without the active involvement of the population the way towards total supply becomes inaccessible, since it is the people as voters, consumers and investors who directly determine the energy future. To assist them in their decision-making they should have access to reliable and comprehensible information highlighting the possibilities of renewable energies but also the challenges that they present.
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17 Oct Biofuels – Opportunities and limits

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Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW)
2009
There is some dispute as to whether and to what extent biofuels should be encouraged: Many open questions remain as to their energy efficiency, commercial viability, as well as environmental and social compatibility. In principle, the SATW supports the encouragement of biofuels, as long as their production and trade result in a positive net energy balance; biofuels must further significantly improve the greenhouse gas balance and meet economic, social and environmental sustainability criteria. The SATW recommends limiting production in Switzerland to biofuels made from biological waste as well as plants unsuitable for human or animal consumption. Before Switzerland begins researching, developing, producing, importing and using biofuels more intensely, rules must be defined to minimise conflicts between food production, environmental protection and energy generation. The Swiss Federal Council is called upon to work towards an international agreement and join it, ensuring that the same principles apply in all countries.
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17 Oct The future of electricity supply

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Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW)
2012
Der Umstieg auf Erneuerbare Energien sowie der grosse Erneuerungs- und Ausbaubedarf bei der Produktion und Übertragung lassen einen grundlegenden Umbau des Elektrizitätssystems erwarten. Die Akademien der Wissenschaften Schweiz begrüssen, dass der Bund einen klaren Rahmen für die Energiepolitik der nächsten Jahre schaffen will. Sie unterstützen grundsätzlich die in der neuen Energiepolitik enthaltene Ausrichtung, Energie effizienter zu nutzen und die erneuerbare Stromproduktion auszubauen. Ein weiteres wichtiges Ziel ist die Integration der schweizerischen Stromversorgung in den europäischen Markt.
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17 Oct How to encourage the renewable production of electricity?

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Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW)
2012
In der Schrift erörtern die Autoren die prinzipiellen Möglichkeiten zur Förderung des erneuerbaren Stroms und analysieren diese in knapper Darstellung. Alle vier untersuchten Förderinstrumente (Einspeisevergütung, Bonusmodell, Quotenregelung und Ausschreibungen) zeigen dabei Stärken, aber auch Schwächen und es gibt keine einfache Regel für die Wahl eines solchen Instrumentes. Es zeigt sich aber doch, dass – eine weitsichtig planende Politik vorausgesetzt – bei längerfristig stabilen Fördermassnahmen die grossen Ziele für 2030 erreichbar sein sollte
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01 Oct Recommendations for an AI Strategy in Switzerland

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Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW)
October 2019
Authors: Alessandro Curioni, Lukas Czornomaz, Joachim Buhmann, Ernst Hafen, Manuel Kugler, Hervé Bourlard, Jana Koehler, Matthias Kaiserswerth, Anika Schumann Main themes: artificial intelligence Digital transformation is radically reshaping almost every aspect of our society. The explosion of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics applications is enabled by the extreme availability of data in combination with the substantial computing power of modern highly distributed computing infrastructures connected by high-speed networks. Machine learning technologies can be trained to perform specific tasks with an efficiency and an accuracy that can supplement and, in some cases, outperform that of humans. These systems provide deep insights by learning from data and interactions with users, which is already leading to a profound transformation of numerous industries, professions, and society at large. The current state of AI is, however, still far from delivering truly intelligent behaviour that is comparable to human intelligence. An AI research strategy should therefore carefully analyse AI’s history with its various waves of large promises and conceptual shortcomings. Leading Swiss experts in AI have published their recommendations for a Swiss AI strategy. They advocate more intensive use of the technology and the creation of national data platforms, as data is a prerequisite for powerful algorithms.
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08 Août Factsheet Bioplastics

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Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW)
August 2019
Authors: Roger Marti, Hans-Peter Meyer, Manfred Zinn Main themes: plastic, bioplastic, biopolymers Nature of publication: factsheet The first plastic, invented in the second half of the 19th century, was celluloid, produced from nitrocellulose and camphor. Bakelite was the first plastic based on repeating and identical building blocks, so-called monomers. Due to its unrivalled characteristics, Bakelite quickly found use in the rapidly growing automotive and electrical industries. Since then, “plastic” has been a major success and is found in practically all aspects of human life and in high-tech applications. The problem of plastic is related to its advantage: durability. It does not degrade completely, instead breaking down into ever smaller micro- and nanoparticles whose fate and influence on ecosystems are not yet clear. Is bioplastic a solution? The first SATW Innovation Forum on “Biopolymers” took place in November 2018. Invited stakeholders from academic research institutions, industry and administration discussed the current situation and possible shortcomings in Switzerland and charted possible scenarios for development. The publication shows why plastic has become a problem, what bioplastics are, and whether it needs regulation.
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08 Mai Technology Outlook 2019

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Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW)
May 2019
Authors: Claudia Schärer et al. Main themes: early identification, technology Nature of publication: study One of the SATW’s key missions is the early identification of new, possibly disruptive technologies that will become relevant for Switzerland’s economy and society in the next three to five years. Every two years, the SATW therefore publishes a public early identification report that presents these technologies and assesses their significance. The Technology Outlook’s third edition introduces several new features. The net was cast significantly wider and more precisely: the current report presents 37 technologies drawn from the fields most relevant to the Swiss economy. This list of technologies was compiled in close cooperation with the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) as well as more than 70 experts. The selection takes into account the technologies’ relevance for Switzerland and their technological maturity. Some technologies have therefore not found their way into the report, as they either do not fit the targeted time horizon of three to five years or are only of little relevance for the Swiss economy.
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08 Sep Information sharing practices in the field of cybersecurity

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Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW)
September 2018
Authors: Solange Ghernaouti, Laura Crespo, Bastien Wanner Main themes: cybersecurity Nature of publication: report The publication analyses information sharing practices in the field of cybersecurity. It summarises the context, needs and constraints of information sharing to ensure security, resilience, and the fight against cybercrime.
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08 Août Swiss industry’s innovative capacity 1997–2014: reassessed

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Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW)
August 2018
Authors: Hans-Peter Herzig, Rita Hofmann, Claudia Schärer, Peter Seitz Main themes: innovation Nature of publication: study Switzerland regularly comes top of rankings evaluating countries’ innovative capacity. Despite this positive assessment, an increasing number of voices are noting an alarming decline in the innovative capacity of Swiss industry. Where does the truth lie?  
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08 Avr Renewable energy production is head of the pack

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Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW)
April 2018
Authors: Bjarne Steffen, Dominique Hischier, Tobias S. Schmidt Main themes: energy Nature of publication: study Specialists of the Energy Politics Group at ETH Zurich were commissioned by SATW to analyse - for the first time ever - the total energy balance of key forms of power production in Switzerland using standardised methodology. The study examined natural gas, geothermal energy, nuclear power, photovoltaics, coal, hydro power, and wind power and firstly calculated their non-renewable cumulative energy demand required to build and supply a system and for power production. For fossil fuel production processes and nuclear power, this is first and foremost the energy in the relevant fuel (gas, coal, uranium). The second element determined was the energy return on energy investment (EROI), which describes the relationship between the power produced and the (‘grey’) energy invested across a system’s entire life cycle. These key figures were used to assess total energy balance. Hydro power’s total energy balance is outstanding. What is impressive is how much it outstrips other forms of power production in terms of its energy return on energy investment.
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