Fig.: P2X/Oekoinstitut
Swissmem has ambitious plans. To achieve CO2 neutrality by 2050, the metal industry is intensifying its cooperation with the Swiss Power-to-X Collaborative Innovation Network (SPIN). The ultimate goal: the "defossilization" of Switzerland's energy supply. SPIN Day will take place in Dübendorf on June 23.
The term "Power-to-X" (P2X) describes innovative key technologies that are intended to make a crucial contribution to defossilization and thus to achieving climate goals. These are processes that convert electricity, renewable energy sources, and CO2 into synthetic energy carriers. The aviation industry is also involved.
Power-to-X (P2X) enables the production of solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels, as well as chemical products. Furthermore, P2X also encompasses storage solutions and solutions for sector coupling. The coupling of the electricity, heating, and transportation sectors is considered one of the keys to the energy transition.
Since 2021, SPIN has been fostering the exchange of experience between P2X stakeholders from business, science, civil society, politics, and administration, both nationally and internationally. Complementing this, Swissmem represents the Swiss mechanical, electrical, and metal industries as their leading association for SMEs and large companies. Many of its approximately 1,300 member companies are engaged with P2X technologies. This is particularly true for companies in the "New Energy Systems" industrial sector, according to the association's board members, which focus on innovative technologies and applications in energy production, storage, transmission, and distribution, as well as energy management systems.
From October 2022, the SPIN association's office will be located at Swissmem in Zurich. Peter Metzinger, physicist and campaigning pioneer, and Roger Sonderegger, head of department at Swissmem, will assume the role of co-managing directors. In addition, a three-person co-presidency and a nine-member board of directors will be formed.
The first SPIN Day will take place on June 23, 2022, at the Swiss Innovation Park in Dübendorf (https://spin-together.ch/spin-day-2022/). Speakers will include Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga, Head of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC), and Carmen Walker-Späh, Head of the Department of Economic Affairs of the Canton of Zurich. Furthermore, prominent representatives from business and science – for example, from EMPA, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Synhelion, and SWISS – will contribute to the event. Workshops will play a central role at SPIN Day. Representatives from over 70 organizations from research, industry, politics, administration, and the general public will work together to develop common goals, necessary framework conditions, and support measures. Participants also include the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA), Pilatus Aircraft, Swiss, Axpo, and Swiss Cleantech.
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