Past Events
September 2024
CoSi and CROSS Presentation - SWEET Conference 2024
The third SWEET conference was held on 4 September 2024.
The event provided a platform for exchange between research and practical implementation. It was designed for researchers from both current and future SWEET consortia, as well as experts in energy research and representatives from the private sector, associations, cantons, cities, municipalities, and the federal government.
CoSi, supported by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, showcased its progress and vision for the future of Swiss energy research.
Key highlights included:
CoSi Overview: The CoSi project connects energy modelling with social sciences and humanities, offering tools for integration, a platform for knowledge exchange, and a testbed for new models. CoSi aims to provide insights into Switzerland’s future energy landscape.
From CROSS to CoSi: The presentation detailed how CROSS (Collaborative Research on Scenario Synthesis) evolved into CROSS+, becoming Work Package 1 (WP1) within CoSi. CROSS+ focuses on creating an open platform for energy research data and scenario comparison, essential for advancing energy system models.
Results and Insights: Several models were compared to explore scenarios like achieving net zero with or without international compensation. The project also examined energy demand, supply flexibility, and hydrogen use for 2050.
June 2024
Successful conclusion of the 4th SSH workshop
Held on June 17-18, 2024, at ETH Zurich, the 4th SSH Energy Workshop brought together about 70 experts to delve into social sciences and humanities (SSH) perspectives on energy transitions. Organized by the CSTS within the Transdisciplinarity Lab at ETH Zurich and SWEET CoSi Consortium, the workshop emphasized the significant role of SSH in shaping future energy transitions.
Kicking off with a welcome from Bianca Vienni-Baptista and Stephanie Briers, this year’s event highlighted the arts’ integral presence. The event featured diverse thematic corners, such as Social, Transitions, and Imaginaries, setting a dynamic stage for the sessions.
Workshops addressed integrating societal dynamics into energy modelling, prototyping energy imaginaries, and building narratives from complex models, underscoring the necessity of interdisciplinary approaches. Rapid knowledge exchange was facilitated through Pecha Kucha and poster presentations on Swiss emission reduction opinions and the sensory perception of renewable energy.
A round table discussion on energy research narratives, with experts including Paul Upham, Adriana Marcucci, and Hugo Caviola and moderated by Bianca Vienni-Baptista, explored the complexities of these narratives and the importance of interdisciplinary understanding. Further sessions focused on incorporating social sciences into energy system modelling and fostering collaboration among humanities, social scientists, and technical scholars.
The closing remarks of the SSH Energy highlighted the needs and potential topics for SSH Energy 2025 – emphasising the need to transfer “know-how” across SSH, modelling and engineering fields to enrich the ongoing need for interdisciplinary research and collaboration in energy transitions. Overall, the event fostered vibrant dialogue, knowledge exchange, and the development of new ideas and partnerships, setting a promising stage for SSH Energy 2025.
March 2024
Successful completion of the Modeller workshop
Recap of Modeller Workshop Event: Insights from CoSi Project and CROSS Model Results
Energy experts convened on March 22nd for the Modeller Workshop Event, delving into the intricacies of the CoSi project and the insights gleaned from the CROSS model results. The event emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration, highlighting the significance of data coordination, scenario development, and stakeholder engagement in shaping the energy landscape.
Insights from CROSS Model Results: Attendees gained valuable insights into energy scenarios in Switzerland through the comprehensive analysis provided by the CROSS model. Key highlights included the necessity of wind and thermal energy in specific scenarios, the pivotal role of electrolysis for storage, and the utilization of electricity for harnessing excess solar energy in various applications. Discussions also touched upon the significance of pumped hydro, imports, and flexibility providers in shaping the energy system, offering a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities in transitioning to sustainable energy.
Addressing Scenario Definition: The event underscored the importance of enhancing the connection between scenarios, decision-making, and models. Historical contexts, such as the 1970s energy crisis, were considered, alongside personal stakeholder experiences and traditional approaches to scenarios. The agenda included discussions on potential research directions within CoSi for improving decision-making representation, fostering collaborative discussion through interactive workshops.
In addition to these insights, the event covered various other pertinent topics, including leveraging methodologies from weather and climate for energy modeling, distinguishing between predictions and projections, discussing scenario processes and intercomparisons, highlighting communication strategies, and emphasizing the importance of building a community and fostering shared understanding among stakeholders beyond data.
January 2024
CoSi launched the 1st Assembly
We are pleased to inform you that the consortium successfully held its first meeting on January 23rd in Bern – the SWEET CoSi Assembly. We shared common visions and challenges to enable a successful co-evaluation of the Swiss energy system and society. Together, we developed detailed roadmaps for true inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration in the CoSi consortium for the next nine years.