When it comes to energy efficiency and expanding the use of renewable energies, electricity, heat and gas suppliers play an important role. The latest energy company benchmarking analysis shows where energy companies have already done a great deal – and where a fair bit can still be done. 

Preventing illegal logging, tracking energy production, and correctly allocating emissions under the polluter pays principle – all of this is possible with blockchain technology. The new Navigating Report 2021 from the Climate Ledger Initiative presents the results of climate-related pilot projects making use of blockchain and other innovative digital technologies.

In the future, both negative emission technologies and trade with international emission certificates are options for municipalities and cantons to reach their climate change mitigation targets. What is their potential, and how suitable are they for the city and for the canton of Zurich on the path to net zero emissions?

A project that began in 2011 is now bearing fruit: India is launching a new nationwide code for energy efficiency in residential buildings. Developed in partnership with Switzerland, the regulations result in significant energy and CO₂ savings, especially where building cooling is concerned.

In Swiss industrial and service companies, energy management is often limited to analysing own energy consumption and to calculating the costs and savings of any efficiency measures. It has little impact on investment decisions, however, as a study as part of National Research Programme NRP 71 shows.

How can a country evaluate its climate policy? A compendium by international experts shows methods by which countries can assess by themselves, how effective their climate policy is. And it shows what additional efforts are required in order to achieve their national climate protection goals. 

An energy-saving target agreement with the Swiss Federal Government, a share of more than 5% electricity costs per gross value added, and a refund amount of at least CHF 20'000 per year: Under these conditions, large commercial or industrial end users are entitled to a refund of their national network supplement for the promotion of renewable energies.

The study examines different variations of market openings. Besides a fully opened market, it also analyses variations with a gradual opening over a period of time or with a differentiation of the opening in regard to customer attributes e.g. the exclusion of market access for households. Furthermore, the issue is being discussed, whether a basic gas supply is necessary at all. The study also evaluates the impacts of a market opening in relation to the economy, the society and the environment. The analyses carried out show that with a continuation of the opening of the gas market, there are positive effects on the economy and the private households to be expected. Moreover, the greatest potentials for efficiency gains can be achieved by a complete opening of the market.

Are Swiss energy suppliers fit for the energy future? Answers to this question provides the benchmarking of energy suppliers which INFRAS and Brandes Energie have carried out for the second time on behalf of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (BFE). On the basis of practice-related criteria from seven fields of action, the benchmarking compares the different contributions of the energy providers regarding more energy sufficiency and renewable energies.

The results show developments towards an energy turnaround. However, they also indicate that there is still potential for improvement and further action: On average, the participants reach 49% of the goals defined in the benchmarking. As already in the first benchmarking, the differences between the particular energy providers vary to a great extent.

62 companies have voluntarily participated in the second benchmarking – altogether they cover 58% of the Swiss sales volume.