Opening day of China-Switzerland Energy Working Group

The opening day of the First Meeting of the China-Switzerland Energy Working Group took place at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zürich on 11 October 2017. The Meeting is the first step in implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on energy cooperation signed between Switzerland and China on 16 January 2017 and the Roadmap for Energy Cooperation signed on 13 May 2017.

Under the auspices of Mr. Benoît Revaz, Director of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, the Meeting started with a tour of two ETH laboratories and fascinating presentations about cutting edge research in the fields of pumped storage, high-voltage technology and nanoelectronics. In the subsequent bilateral exchange between Mr. Revaz and Vice Administrator of the National Energy Administration (NEA) of China, Mr. Li Fanrong, both sides underscored the significance of this first meeting.

Swiss participants included the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE), ETH Zurich, EPFL Lausanne, Lucerne University of Applied Science, PSI Institute, ABB, Alpiq, Andritz, BKW, CSEM, GE Renewable Energy and Meyer Burger Technology. The Chinese side included NEA, China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute (CREEI), State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), and PowerChina Huadong Engineering Corporation Ltd.

The exchange focused on the state of play in research, development and industrial applications in the fields of advanced energy storage, including pumped storage, and electricity grid development and operation, with a particular focus on integration of variable renewables and pumped storage. Areas for further cooperation were identified for joint work in 2017/18. Both sides agreed to hold the second Energy Working Group meeting in China in October 2018.

Simon Büschi, Diplomatic Advisor SFOE