Review of REMforum 2023

• Julia Loder University of St.Gallen (workshop leader)
• Angelika Bachmann bachmann-education, Glonn, DE
• Christoph Kauz Managing Director, Energietal Toggenburg, CH
• Martin Schweighofer Energieinstitut Vorarlberg, AT

The current energy crisis evokes strong emotions. Reliability and climate concerns intermingle and leave consumers facing the question where their energy should come from. Demand for renewable energy technologies (RET) has surged in light of the crisis. This workshop will discuss the role of emotions in consumer adoption of RETs, here solar PV, heat pumps, and electric vehicles. Particularly, the link between affective and rational factors and how they affect whether consumers adopt RETs is in the focus of this workshop. Professionals shaping the energy transition in Switzerland, Austria, and Germany will share their insights on the topic. After a presentation of findings from recent consumer surveys conducted in Germany and Switzerland, we will discuss their implications for renewable energy managers and policymakers.

• Juliane Seika University of St.Gallen (workshop leader)
• Prof. Dr. Merla Kubli University of St.Gallen (workshop leader)
• Alessandra Hool CEO & Managing Director, ESM Entwicklungsfonds Seltene Metalle, CH
• Jodok Reinhardt  Founder & CEO, LIBREC AG, CH
• Alexandru Zavate MBA candidate & CFO Mondaine Watch Group, CH
• Lukas Zeugin MBA candidate & Strategic Project Manager, Biotronik, CH

Establishing a circular economy for used EV batteries is a key strategy for implementing a sustainable mobility system. While lacking the necessary volumes and incentives today, a circular economy promises business opportunities by extending the material's lifetime, offering storage for the energy market, and decreasing the environmental footprint of EV batteries. This workshop illuminates the road toward a circular economy of EV batteries in three ways. Guest inputs will shed light on current entrepreneurial activity in the repurposing and recycling market. Insights on regulatory developments on the EU level highlight the relevance of the political perspective. Furthermore, the initiative of a battery passport will be introduced, which translates EU policies into practice by leveraging information flows across the value chain. The second part of the workshop is dedicated to an interactive session where participants discuss the insights gained by engaging in a case study.

A GREEN DEAL FOR UKRAINE AND SWITZERLAND: THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

• Prof. Dr. Nadiya Kostyuchenko Sumy State University & University of St.Gallen (workshop leader)
• Katharina Reidl University of St.Gallen (workshop leader)
• Anna Ackermann Policy Analyst, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) & Board Member, Centre for Environmental Initiatives (Ecoaction), CH
• Katja Graf Senior Scientific Officer, Office for Nature and Environment, Canton of Grisons, CH
• Franziska Ryser National Councillor, Federal Assembly of the Swiss Parliament, CH

Green Deals have recently been established in several countries to reach the 1.5°C global warming target. They are usually adopted on a national or supranational level, as in the case of the European Green Deal, and follow a top-down approach of policy making. Given the crucial role of social acceptance of Green Deals, bottom-up citizen co-investment and community participation are equally important for a successful energy and climate policy implementation. With the war in Ukraine, countries have put more emphasis on a rapid energy transition. Green Deals offer a solution to not only become more energy independent, but also to put climate policies in place. This workshop introduces centralised and decentralised Green Deal policy designs and emphasises the role of citizen participation in climate and energy policy implementation.

SUPERCHARGING THE ENERGY TRANSITION WITH CORPORATE NET ZERO STRATEGY?

• Sabrina Mili University of St.Gallen (workshop leader)
• Dr. Cris Pons-Seres de Brauwer University of St.Gallen (workshop leader)
• Simon Heller Director Sustainability Services, Deloitte. AG, CH
• Elisa Sadakhom Operational Sustainability Consultant, Property & Sustainability, Group Technology & Operations (GTO), Zurich Insurance Company Ltd., CH
• Roland Stadler Head Energy Procurement, Migros-Genossenschafts-Bund, CH

Renewable energy is key in achieving ambitious corporate net zero targets. But how can green power procurement strategies be designed to actually make a difference in accelerating the energy transition? The workshop will kick-start with an overview of the state-of-the-art of green power procurement, as well as of the challenges associated with their implementation. This will be followed by best practice cases of companies switching to 100% renewables and lead to a discussion of effective green power strategies to deliver on corporate net zero targets.