Current Challenges for Power Grids: PV Surplus, Prosumers, and AI – TECHNOLOGY

The surplus of photovoltaic (PV) energy in summer poses new questions for the power system: Where do we channel up to 10 GW of surplus when the base load is only 5 GW? How do data exchange, AI support, and the integration of prosumers work in practice? Together with Swissgrid and grid operators, we will discuss the operational challenges facing power grids.

Expert knowledge is a decisive factor in successfully navigating the upcoming energy transition. In the Electrosuisse Forum, we turn our focus to digitalization at the low-voltage level and showcase how the city of Chur has gained full control over grid level 7. We are also interested in the progress with renewable energy sources – when connected decentrally, they can increase the degree of self-sufficiency in many grid areas, thereby helping to balance grid load. We will take a closer look at a specific installation that contributes to bridging the critical winter phase: the Alpine PV system for the Klosters/Madrisa ski area.

In the third segment, we will host a panel discussion with grid operators from various regions of the country: Where are the most pressing issues right now? Are we managing to stably integrate the rapidly growing share of renewables into the grid? What do we do with the PV surplus? And who pays for hydropower plants that are increasingly tasked with flood protection functions, thereby losing energy production capacity? How is the cyber defense landscape evolving, what are the biggest challenges posed by regulatory frameworks, and what role do the new local energy communities (LEG) play? Representatives from Swissgrid and grid operators from different linguistic regions of Switzerland will discuss these topics with our moderator and Expert Board member Armin Bolt, while also welcoming input and ideas from the audience.

Program

Simultaneous translation in English and French is available.