Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Neuchâtel, a town of 32,000 inhabitants at the Lake Neuchâtel in the western canton of Switzerland, will finalise a series of demonstration projects in 2012. It will be on the path to sustainability through increased renewable energy generation capacity and through the intelligent use of that capacity.

Sun, wind and water are the main ingredients. Neuchâtel has established a CONCERTO district, covering 1.5 km² and 4,700 people. Two PV solar plants are being installed, one on the roof of a high school and one built into a new sports stadium. These will be accompanied by a wind farm with 4MW capacity. Hydropower is also part of the equation, with a refit being carried out on a plant on the river Serrière, and a new plant planned for the river Seyon.

The CONCERTO approach

Overall, Neuchâtel is taking an integrated approach: energy production and consumption measures that will reduce by 23 percent the use of non-renewable energy, while substantially increasing renewable energy use.

Renewable Energy Sources

·         Photovoltaics

·         Thermal Use of Biomass

·         Solar Thermal

·         Hydro Power

Low Carbon Technologies

·         Heat Pump

·         Renewable or Passive Cooling

·         Insulation

·         Monitoring and Targeting (M&T)

·         MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery)

·         District Heating

·         Glazing, Windows

·         Optimised Lighting/Daylighting Systems

Neuchâtel is part of the CONCERTO project HOLISTIC.

Site facts & figures:

·         Estimated population involved: 3,200

·         Approx. geographical area coverage (in ha): 0.00015

·         Approx. energy saving (in %): 23

The consortium:

·         Ville de Neuchâtel

·         République et Canton de Neuchâtel

·         Service de l'énergie du Canton de Neuchâtel
Ecoparc (Association involved in sustainable development and management company)

·         Planair (Consulting engineers in energy and environment)

·         EPFL - LESO (Solar energy and physics of buildings lab)

·         Viteos (Industrial services for mountains and coastal of Neuchâtel)

·         Bauart (Architects and town planners)

• CSEM (Swiss center for electronics and microtechnology)
• Adhoco (company involved in adaptive home automation)