Federal Councilor Parmelin visits the Limmattal – and speaks out in favor of climate-friendly technology
Guy Parmelin gave a speech in Schlieren on Thursday as part of the Power-to-X Days. The Federal Council was positive about a technology that is intended to contribute to the energy transition.
All eyes were on him when Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin arrived at the Schlieremer JED on Thursday. The Economics Minister traveled from Bern to the Limmat Valley to give a speech at the Power-to-X Days.
Prominent in the Limmattal: Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin visits the Power-to-X Days in Schlieren. To his left is Peter Metzinger, Dietiker municipal councilor (FDP) and co-managing director of Spin, which organized the event.
Bild: Valentin Hehli
The two-day conference focused on Power-to-X – a technology that could make a major contribution to the energy transition. The fact that the Federal Councilor himself came by suggests that the technology is relevant at the federal level.
Was ist Power-to-X?
Power-to-X (P2X) is the term for technologies that use electricity (“power”) to produce materials that primarily serve as energy sources. The end products of an energy consumption process are converted back into energy sources via a chemical process. For example, hydrogen, synthetic gas or synthetic fuels such as gasoline and kerosene can be produced.
The method is roughly equivalent to reversing the combustion process. This means that when gasoline is burned, it mainly produces water and CO2, which is so harmful to the climate. With P2X you reverse this process and turn the waste products CO2 and water into an energy source again. No new petroleum is needed to produce gasoline, only the residues that are already present in the environment.
Power-to-X Days in Schlieren with Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin.
Bild: Valentin Hehli
Unlike compensation certificates, which still emit new CO2, P2X practically only creates CO2 that already existed and was removed from the atmosphere. This leads to a better CO2 balance.
Another advantage of P2X is that energy that is difficult to store – especially electricity – can be stored as energy in the long term in the form of hydrocarbon and then converted again. Energy is lost in the process because energy is consumed in the conversion of electricity into the energy source – and back. However, in the event of a power shortage, you can ensure sufficient electricity again by using excess electricity that was previously stored with P2X.
Parmelin supports technology
In his ten-minute lecture, Parmelin focused on the importance of P2X technologies for Switzerland. “It is our goal to ensure a stable energy supply,” said the Federal Council. The P2X technologies are an integral part of this and are in line with the energy transition and the net zero target of 2050.
In the area of P2X technology, the federal government supports both research and start-ups, said Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin during his visit to Schlieren.
Bild: Valentin Hehli
For these reasons, the federal government supports research into P2X technologies. “Our universities and specialist institutes are actively involved in the development and improvement of P2X processes.”
However, start-ups are also being supported for this purpose, for which the Federal Council found words of praise: “Some of our start-ups that are active in this area now have an international reputation,” said Parmelin. Their large number is also a “real economic opportunity” for Switzerland, which could benefit even more from the export of technologies and know-how.
Guy Parmelin, Head of the Department of Economics, Education and Research.
Bild: Valentin Hehli
Following Parmelin’s lecture, the Federal Council answered some challenging questions from the audience. One participant wanted to know why the federal government does not support the upscaling of the Power-to-X infrastructure in addition to the start-ups. “That is one of the problems that Switzerland has,” replied Parmelin. It is a project that is, at best, on “stand-by”. “I will put the question to Ms. Karin Keller-Sutter (Finance Minister),” Parmelin added with a smile.
Lack of investment continues to be a problem
Overall, Parmelin was positive and confident about P2X technology. Peter Metzinger, Dietikan local councilor (FDP) and co-managing director of Spin, which organized the event, sees it similarly. “There were positive signals from the Federal Council, who clearly spoke words of support.”
Peter Metzinger, FDP local councilor in Dietikon and co-managing director of the Swiss Power-to-X Collaborative Innovation Network (Spin), which organized the event.
Bild: Valentin Hehli
In general, the Power-to-X Days were very successful, says Metzinger. “For the first time, we had representatives from the financial industry with us, which we need to ramp up the production of renewable fuels.” The lack of investors continues to be an obstacle because, according to Metzinger, the technology is actually there.
The event also brought together representatives from industry, science, politics and administration. An exchange that, according to Metzinger, needs to be intensified. “More mutual understanding is needed for trust to develop. There are misunderstandings about synthetic fuels, some of which are based on false assumptions,” says Metzinger. That’s why Spin wants to expand the dialogue even further in the future.
The exchange on P2X technology should also take place in the future.
Bild: Valentin Hehli
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