Watt d'Or: Swiss electric bus with "turbocharging" wins award
The renowned Swiss "Watt d'Or" award honors great and innovative achievements in the energy environment in four categories and a special prize. In 2018, the Swiss Federal Office of Energy again honored projects for particularly efficient use of energy. The "Seal of Approval for Energy Excellence" is awarded to the Geneva electric bus "Tosa".
Watt d'Or publicizes "exceptional achievements in the energy sector". However, the winners do not receive any prize money. "Tosa" is the winner in the "Energy-efficient mobility" category. The electric bus, which needs no overhead wires and can charge its batteries within seconds at selected stops (see graphic), has been in service on line 23 in Geneva since December 2017.
The Federal Office of Energy speaks of a "pioneering innovation". The prize winners are responsible for this: ABB together with Transports Publics Genevois (tpg), Office de Promotion des Industries et des Technologies (OPI), Services Industriels de Genève (SIG) and Carrosserie Hess. The winners of other categories are listed below:
- Street lamps that respond to traffic
A new type of lighting control system for street lights has also received an award. Thanks to intelligent sensor technology, these can be adapted smoothly and gently to the volume of traffic. The traffic-monitoring lighting saves up to 70 percent energy, depending on the situation. (Award winners: Electricity Works of the Canton of Zurich, Schréder Swiss SA. Category: Energy Technologies)
- Wastes that "step on the gas
Biogas from waste is a valuable energy source. Until now, the raw biogas had to be treated at great expense to separate the CO2 it contains. A new direct methanation technology makes this unnecessary and increases the yield of bio-methane by 60 percent. (Award winners: Paul Scherrer Institute PSI and Energy 360°. Category: Renewable Energies)
- Remodeling in the style of "architecture future".
A new building and conversion project at Hohlstrasse 100 in Zurich has been awarded a prize. According to the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, "innovative solutions" were used here. These include prefabricated wooden elements insulated with the high-performance insulating material Aerogel. These made it possible to create a very thin exterior façade and thus maximize the usable interior surface area.
In addition, vacuum insulation glass would be used as standard glazing for the first time in Switzerland. (Award winner: Dietrich Schwarz Architekten AG. Category: Buildings and Space)
- Energy optimization as a service
The "éco21" program of Services industriels de Genève has declared war on energy wastage caused by poorly adjusted heating systems. With energy optimization contracts, building owners and property management companies can have the optimal operation of their heating systems ensured. This is a unique service in Switzerland, he said. Since 2014, the program has enabled energy savings of 20 GWh and reduced CO2 emissions by 4400 tons. (Award winners: Services industriels de Genève, éco21 and energo. Category: Special Award Energy Efficiency)
For more information on the Watt d'Or 2018, see this Link
