Case Studies: Energy Systems and Technology (CS-EST)
Goals of the course
The aim of the course Case Studies: Energy Systems and Technology (CS-EST) is to give MEST students the experience of working on real-world problems currently faced by companies within the energy sector. The challenges related to building a sustainable energy system for the future normally require interdisciplinary teams, thinking and solutions: the CS-EST course covers some of the technical, economic and regulatory aspects of this challenge.
The CS-EST course links industry and academia, providing the students with the opportunity to meet industry experts and understand the challenges they are facing, find innovative solutions to relevant real-life problems in the energy sector and get feedback.
Organisation
The CS-EST course covers two consecutive semesters with 2 ECTS per semester. Each student is assigned to a team working on a single case study authored by one of our industry partners.
The students in each case study team will have differing technical backgrounds; they will need to work closely together, pool their knowledge, and seek expert help to fill the gaps. Throughout the course, each case study team will have access to their industry expert to ask questions and discuss deliverables. Each team is assigned a coach, a senior MEST student, to guide them and facilitate the interaction with industry partners, experts and scientists.
There are no regular lectures to attend and no exams to sit; attendance at three events over the two semesters is required to introduce the case studies, present the work plans, and present the final results respectively.
Awards
CS2 BKW "Hydrogen Price" (Peer-to-Peer Award for Best Presentation) 2022-2023
CS3 MAN "Decarbonizing Water Desalination Plants" (Facilitators and Coaches Award Award for Best Presentation) Case Study Presentations 2021-2022 2021-2022
Team 7: Sector Coupling Showcase (Peer-to-Peer Award for Best Presentation) 2021-2022
Team 2: Energy Community National Market Framework (Facilitators' Award for Best Project) 2020-2021
Team 2: Benefits from Lead Time Reductions in the Cross-border Intraday Power Market Trading (Peer-to-Peer Award for Best Presentation) 2020-2021
Team 5: Implementation of Power to X in a Waste to Energy Plant in Switzerland (Facilitators' Award for Best Project) Case Study Presentation 2019-2020 2019-2020
Team 7: Optimization of the Temperature-Controlled Freight Wagon (Teachers' Award for Best Project) 2019-2020
Team 2: E-mobility "Fleet" Business Case (Peer-to-Peer Award for Best Presentation) 2018/2019
Team 1: eMob360° (Peer-to-Peer Award for Best Presentation) 2018-2019
Team 5: Integration of Energy Storage into the SBB Power Grid (Teachers' Award for Best Project)
Industry Partners and Topics of Case Studies
This course wouldn't be possible without the support and commitment of our industry partners:
- Sustainability of Battery Storage Solutions (external pageABB)
- Cooling by PV-Rooftop (external pageBKW AG)
- Industrial Waste Energy for the Decarbonisation (external pageMAN Energy Solutions)
- Cornaux Fuel Conversion (external pageJura Cement)
- Electric vehicles for ancillary services (external pageHelion)
- Geothermal Energy (external pagetbf partner)
- Vehicle To Grid (external pageABB)
- Hydrogen Price (external pageBKW AG)
- Decarbonization of Future Water Desalination Plants (external pageMAN Energy Solutions)
- Reallabor Sisslerfeld Energy (external pageReallabor Sisslerfeld)
- Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (external pageAxpo Solution AG)
- Generative Modelling Renewables (external pageHitachi Energy)
- Energy Market Modelling (external pageAxpo Solution AG)
- Energy Community Framework (external pageExnaton)
- Chemical Energy Carriers (external pageSBB AG)
- Energy Storage (external pageABB)
- Grid Climate Impact (external pageHitachi Energy)
- Hydrogen Energy (external pageBKW AG)
- Sector Coupling (external pageEnergie360° AG)
- Flexibility Potential (external pageSwissgrid Ltd)
- Data-driven distribution grid operation (external pagedie werke versorgung wallisellen)
- Benefits from Lead Time Reductions in the Cross-border Intraday Power Market Trading (external pageAlpiq Holding AG)
- Sector Coupling at household level (external pageSwissgrid AG)
- Using electric-vehicle batteries as flexibility providers in the electricity market (external pageBKW AK)
- Implementation of Power to X in a Waste to Energy Plant in Switzerland (external pageTBF + Partner AG)
- Alpine PV (external pageSATW)
- Understanding the electricity supply system through data visualization (external pageSwissgrid AG)
- E-mobility ‘Fleet’ Business Case (external pageEKZ)
- E-mobility ‘Blue Zone’ Business Case (external pageEKZ)
- Online marketplace for buying and selling solar and wind energy (external pagePexapark)
- 100% renewable energy for Swiss railways (external pageSBB AG)
- Autonomous micro-charging infrastructure (external pageEnergie 360°)
- Optimization of the temperature-controlled freight wagon (external pageSBB Cargo AG)
- E-Mobility: micro-charging (external pageEnergie 360°)
- Smart Home (external pageEnergie 360°)
- Hydro gallery submarine (external pageewz)
- Urban Power Demand Patterns by 2025/2030 (external pageewz)
- Integration of energy storage into the SBB power grid (external pageSBB AG)
- Wireless Railway Feasibility Study Report (external pageSBB AG)
- Electrification of the Rail Freight Vehicles (external pageSBB Cargo AG)
- Coordinated Access to Distributed Flexibility (external pageSwissgrid AG)
Examples of team presentations from previous years
Winning presentations from the 2022-2023 session :
- Peer to peer Award : DownloadCS2 BKW "Hydrogen Price" (PPTX, 39.3 MB)
- Facilitators and Coaches Award : CS3 MAN Download"Decarbonizing Water Desalination Plants" (PPTX, 9.2 MB)
