Repository logo

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
  1. Home
  2. Academic and Research Output
  3. Journal articles
  4. Power plant units for CO<inf>2</inf> neutral energy security in Switzerland
 
research article

Power plant units for CO2 neutral energy security in Switzerland

Züttel, Andreas  
•
Nützenadel, Christoph
•
Schlapbach, Louis
Show more
2024
Frontiers in Energy Research

A new concept based on Power Plant Units, able to deliver renewable energy on demand, for the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy in Switzerland is presented. The technically realized efficiencies showed that complete electrification leads to the most efficient energy system and cheapest electricity. The electricity demand is expected to almost double, and the overall energy cost will increase by 20% compared to 2019. However, the technical challenges of seasonal electricity storage, without any reserves and redundancy, amounts to 20 TWh. Hydropower and PV without storage produce the cheapest electricity. Future nuclear fission technologies, e.g., molten salt Thorium breading reactor - currently still in an experimental stage–might become the most economical and least environmental impact solution for CO2 neutral continuous electricity production. The opportunities for a massive increase of hydroelectric production are limited, already shifting the use of water (9 TWh) from summer to winter is a great challenge. PV and hydrogen production in Switzerland have the advantage to provide approximately 75% of the electricity without seasonal storage leading to significantly lower electricity cost than from imported hydrogen or synthetic hydrocarbons. The most economical solution for aviation and reserves is imported bio-oil converted to synthetic Kerosene, for which large storages already exist.

  • Details
  • Metrics
Type
research article
DOI
10.3389/fenrg.2024.1336016
Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85201386025

Author(s)
Züttel, Andreas  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Nützenadel, Christoph

Christoph Nutzenadel AG

Schlapbach, Louis

University of Fribourg

Gilgen, Paul W.

Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology

Date Issued

2024

Published in
Frontiers in Energy Research
Volume

12

Article Number

1336016

Subjects

CO free 2

•

cost of energy

•

energy storage

•

nuclear

•

power plant units

•

renewable energy

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
LMER  
Available on Infoscience
January 24, 2025
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/243657
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
  • Contact
  • infoscience@epfl.ch

  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Follow us on LinkedIn
  • Follow us on X
  • Follow us on Youtube
AccessibilityLegal noticePrivacy policyCookie settingsEnd User AgreementGet helpFeedback

Infoscience is a service managed and provided by the Library and IT Services of EPFL. © EPFL, tous droits réservés