Lecture

Energy Transition in Switzerland: Electricity Generation

Graph Chat

Chat with Graph Search

Ask any question about EPFL courses, lectures, exercises, research, news, etc. or try the example questions below.

DISCLAIMER: The Graph Chatbot is not programmed to provide explicit or categorical answers to your questions. Rather, it transforms your questions into API requests that are distributed across the various IT services officially administered by EPFL. Its purpose is solely to collect and recommend relevant references to content that you can explore to help you answer your questions.

Description

This lecture covers the energy transition in Switzerland, focusing on electricity and heat generation from various fuels. It explains the types of energy conversion, including combustion and direct electrochemical transformation via fuel cells. The process of converting primary energy sources like geothermal, nuclear, wind, and biomass into electricity is detailed. The lecture also discusses thermal energy, work efficiency, internal combustion engines, combined power plants, and electrochemical transformations like solid oxide fuel cells. Heat-power coupling and the comparison of electrical efficiencies are explored, emphasizing the potential of fuel cells for high efficiency and low emissions. The summary highlights the versatility of fuels in electricity generation and the importance of improving efficiency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In MOOC

SES Swiss-Energyscope

Switzerland, like many other countries, is revising its energy strategy with a view to a transition towards a more rational use of energy, a more dynamic development of renewable energies and a progressive exit from nuclear energy. In a participatory democracy, such a process can only be based on a good understanding of the basic concepts and the issues related to technological and political choices. This course, which is open to everyone, is aimed at all citizens who wish to gain a better understanding in

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Environmental science

Environmental policy: Topics in environmental policy

Related concepts (32)

Renewable energy

Renewable energy is energy from renewable resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale. Renewable resources include sunlight, wind, the movement of water, and geothermal heat. Although most renewable energy sources are sustainable, some are not. For example, some biomass sources are considered unsustainable at current rates of exploitation. Renewable energy is often used for electricity generation, heating and cooling.

Fuel cell

A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel (often hydrogen) and an oxidizing agent (often oxygen) into electricity through a pair of redox reactions. Fuel cells are different from most batteries in requiring a continuous source of fuel and oxygen (usually from air) to sustain the chemical reaction, whereas in a battery the chemical energy usually comes from substances that are already present in the battery. Fuel cells can produce electricity continuously for as long as fuel and oxygen are supplied.

Solid oxide fuel cell

A solid oxide fuel cell (or SOFC) is an electrochemical conversion device that produces electricity directly from oxidizing a fuel. Fuel cells are characterized by their electrolyte material; the SOFC has a solid oxide or ceramic electrolyte. Advantages of this class of fuel cells include high combined heat and power efficiency, long-term stability, fuel flexibility, low emissions, and relatively low cost. The largest disadvantage is the high operating temperature which results in longer start-up times and mechanical and chemical compatibility issues.

Renewable energy commercialization

Renewable energy commercialization involves the deployment of three generations of renewable energy technologies dating back more than 100 years. First-generation technologies, which are already mature and economically competitive, include biomass, hydroelectricity, geothermal power and heat. Second-generation technologies are market-ready and are being deployed at the present time; they include solar heating, photovoltaics, wind power, solar thermal power stations, and modern forms of bioenergy.

Alkaline fuel cell

The alkaline fuel cell (AFC), also known as the Bacon fuel cell after its British inventor, Francis Thomas Bacon, is one of the most developed fuel cell technologies. Alkaline fuel cells consume hydrogen and pure oxygen, to produce potable water, heat, and electricity. They are among the most efficient fuel cells, having the potential to reach 70%. NASA has used alkaline fuel cells since the mid-1960s, in the Apollo-series missions and on the Space Shuttle. The fuel cell produces power through a redox reaction between hydrogen and oxygen.

Related lectures (64)

Decarbonization: Energy Transition & Sustainability

Delves into the feasibility of decarbonizing the electricity sector by 2050 using renewable energies, emphasizing economic competitiveness and sustainability.

World Energy Production: Mitigating CO2 Emissions

Covers world energy production, emphasizing the need to mitigate CO2 emissions through renewable energy sources.

Mitigating CO2 Emissions: Energy Transition

Emphasizes the transition to renewables to mitigate CO2 emissions and discusses nuclear energy challenges, costs, and perspectives.

Mitigating CO2 Emissions: Strategies and Challenges

Explores challenges and strategies for mitigating CO2 emissions, covering energy supply, economics, nuclear fission, renewable energies, and the impact of agriculture and meat production.

Decoupling Economic Growth from Carbon Emissions