Florian Ruesch

The RegEWS project demonstrates how large geothermal probe fields for thermal networks can be designed to be significantly more compact through targeted summer regeneration.

Heat storages can assist in the rational dimensioning and operation of thermal networks. They can smooth out peak loads and eliminate the need for fossil-fuelled peak load boilers. Heat surpluses can be stored temporarily. Decentralised storage systems can relieve the load on individual sections of the grid or enable grid densification and… ...

Substituting fossil fuels with renewable energies will not be feasible without a notable expansion of seasonal energy storage. Seasonal thermal energy storages (STES) are expected to contribute significantly to this goal. The project SwissSTES systematically analyses STES potentials such as available and unused cavities, geothermal probe or pit… ...

Solar assisted district heating networks are booming in Denmark and are also progressing in Austria, Germany and Sweden. With these large solar thermal systems, low heat production cost below 5 Rp/kWh are reached. In this project, SPF supports district heating operators to find possibilities for the integration of solar heat in their network and… ...

This project is the first to build, measure and optimise a recyclable asphalt collector for the regeneration of geothermal probes.
The background to this pilot and demonstration project is the increasingly dense use of geothermal probes, which leads to long-term cooling of the subsoil. Studies show that there is a considerable need for… ...

The seasonal storage of heat in 100 % solar thermal heated single and multifamily buildings has been implemented in a number of projects in Switzerland. The first multifamily building with seasonal thermal energy storage that uses a combination of PV and heat pump instead of a solar thermal system is currently being built in Benzenschwil (AG/CH).… ...

Within this project the potential of large thermal energy storages to facilitate the decarbonisation and simultaneous expansion of thermal networks are analysed. Different techniques of short-, medium- and long-term heat storage are considered. The focus is on the replacement of fossil peak load, the increased integration of waste heat, the shift… ...

Within the project Ice-Grid possible application of ice-storage tanks in low temperature thermal networks will be analyzed. In combination with other storages, ice-storage tanks can help to shift the availability of heat or cold. As latent heat can be used at 0 °C within an ice storage, this type of storage is of particular interest regarding the… ...

Geothermal heat pumps are efficient heating systems and therefore they can provide a substantial contribution to the reduction of CO2 emissions of the Swiss building park. In reverse operation mode, they can also cover the increasing cooling demand of buildings. However, the SIA 180 standard asks for passive measures to prevent overheating of… ...

Minergie 2017 and MukEn 2014 define framework conditions that lead to more solar collectors being installed or not. The project will clarify which factors are decisive for the choice and use of solar collectors. Based on the existing standards, fundamentals and tools are to be improved so that an increased use of solar heat can take place. ...

The aim of this project is the development of a fully configured and modular scalable solar thermal system for use in industry at various sites (production sites) and applications (heat sinks). For this purpose, a universally applicable smallest unit for heat supply is developed, which is adapted for the widest possible range of heat sinks. This… ...

SPF has carried out three projects from 2017 – 2020 on the topic of Legionella in hot water systems. In the LegioSafe project (2018), a literature study was conducted on legionella, temperatures in drinking water systems, and the occurrence of legionella in systems with solar thermal water heating. In 2019, a field study was conducted including 110… ...

Fully solar heated single and multifamily houses are already technically feasible. The seasonal storage in these systems is associated with corresponding investment cost and demand for storage volume. This project analyses whether cost and used storage volume can be reduced with the combination of solar thermal with a PV driven heat pump system.… ...

Requirements and possible sites in Switzerland

The Drake Landing Solar Community has raised worldwide attention, when covering 100% of space heat for an entire quarter of single family houses with a concept of solar thermal collectors and a central borehole storage. In this project it was analyzed weather a similar concept can be realized in… ...

Solar assisted district heating is widely used in countries as Austria, Germany and Sweden and is booming in Denmark. Heat production costs below 0.05 CHF/kWh where recently reached. With this feasibility study district heating networks of the canton of St. Gallen are analyzed in terms of the feasibility and the cost-benefit ratio of an integration… ...

The are no universal guidelines or thresholds for reflected sunlight in the public space. In this project, physical parameters for an objective description and quantification of a «discomfort glare» from reflected sunlight are elaborated. Furthermore, the scattered reflection (bidirectional reflectance distribution function, BRDF) of several glass… ...

Low temperature district heating networks, in which borehole fields serve as seasonal storage on a low temperature level for efficient decentralized heat pumps, are emulated in dynamic simulations. Based on the analyses of existing networks, means for optimizing the energy efficiency by global regulation strategies or the use of new renewable… ...