The Energy Moonshot: How we are test driving the future

Walenstadt: the energy island

One small St Gallen community is working with NCCR Automation to explore energy independence. Walenstadt lies at the end of the Walensee, in a narrow mountain valley where it enjoys an abundance of renewable energy from three hydro power plants as well as photovoltaic generators. It is also home to a hospital and other essential infrastructure. As such, this small area can be treated as a test case for modelling energy resilience for all of Switzerland. 

The Walenstadt municipality sees an economic opportunity to profit from their natural resources, and to build their resilience to natural disasters as well as economic shocks (such as changing energy prices). We see a learning opportunity to explore pressing questions in designing fully automated energy systems.  

• How can we create and maintain a sustainable power grid, with the facility to store power against future need and trade it externally?  
• What can we learn about power distribution rates, usage and flexibility needs? 
• What solutions can we explore for anticipated challenges? 
• What unforeseen issues may arise? 

Sisslerfeld: the living lab

Lying along the Rhine between Zurich and Basel, Sisslerfeld is an industrial park shared by four municipalities, Eiken, Münchwilen, Sisseln and Stein – and even the local German authorities over the border are engaged. The site houses a number of multinational companies employing around 10,000 workers, with that number set to double within 20 years. The site therefore has substantial impact on the region, but depends on small towns with little capacity for advanced urban planning. That’s where we come in.