Federal Councillor Sommaruga: "A climate-neutral energy supply can only be achieved together with the economy".
Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga emphasized the importance of innovative companies and technologies for climate protection at the summer event of the swisscleantech business association at the Rapperswil University of Applied Sciences. She praised swisscleantech as an important player in the phase-out of fossil energies.
By 2050, the energy supply must be completely converted to renewable energies so that Switzerland becomes climate-neutral. The necessary technologies are being developed at the HSR University of Applied Sciences Rapperswil. During her appearance at the swisscleantech members' event, Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga also visited the power-to-gas plant. HSR is driving this key technology for a CO2-neutral energy supply forward with research projects. It allows surplus renewable electricity to be stored in the long term and to replace fossil energy sources.
In her speech, the head of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications commented on the role of business and the swisscleantech association in climate protection.
"swisscleantech has been campaigning for a climate-neutral energy supply for ten years. The trade association thus plays a central role in Switzerland in achieving the necessary phase-out of fossil energies. This change can only succeed together with the business community. As a location for innovation, Switzerland is in a very good position here," said Federal Councilor Sommaruga.
Entrepreneurs for ambitious climate protection
The call for ambitious climate protection has also reached the Swiss business community. This is shown by the growing number of members who support swisscleantech.
"Since the beginning of the year, we have been able to recruit over 70 companies from a wide range of industries as members. More and more entrepreneurs are realizing that now is the time to act. In the face of the challenge of climate change, entrepreneurial innovation plays a central role, bringing with it many economic opportunities. However, this requires the right political framework conditions. Since its foundation ten years ago, swisscleantech has been working to achieve precisely this," says Fabian Etter, Vice President of swisscleantech and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Elektro Etter AG.
Swiss research for ambitious climate protection
At HSR, more than 100 scientists in four institutes are conducting intensive research into a sustainable future in the fields of energy and environmental technology. HSR has very strong national and international networks and works closely with business and industry as well as other research institutions.
"Two thirds of Swiss energy consumption is based on fossil sources and causes CO2 emissions. Many implementation questions arise in the changeover to a fossil-free energy supply. HSR's applied research and development provided concrete answers to these. Moreover, the transformation will only succeed if a sufficient number of well-trained specialists are available. HSR was the first university of applied sciences in Switzerland to establish a degree program in Renewable Energies and Environmental Engineering and has been training young engineers for the energy transition since 2010," says Henrik Nordborg, head of the Renewable Energies and Environmental Engineering program at HSR.
