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Electrify Everything

Impact Circle Event, February 2023

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First Impact Circle Event of the year

On Friday, 10 February, the first Impact Circle Event of the current year took place at the Hotel The Alpina Gstaad under the motto "Electrify Everything". The sustainability initiative Impact Gstaad offered a platform for sustainability visionaries to present their solutions for tackling the world's most pressing problems to over 200 invited guests. The focus was on the first own project "SolSarine".

Time for change

"The reason why I am here today? We need to move from short-term to long-term thinking. That is, how do we achieve sustainable prosperity in Saanenland and how can we adapt this as a template to other places." With these words, André Hoffmann, Impact Gstaad Ambassador opened the first Impact Circle event of the year and thus summed up the essence of the following five hours.

Electrifying solutions

In keeping with the current focus topic of "energy transition", the Impact Circle Event was all about electrification. Scientists discussed renewable energies and the hurdles on the way to a sustainable society together with politicians and financial experts. Innovative tinkerers impressed with their forward-looking solutions and generated lively interest among those present. For example, Christian Ochsenbein, Head of Swiss Battery Technology Center, gave an insight into the future of battery technology, while Dr. Marc Henning Diekmann, with his company Litricity, presented a completely new form of energy storage. With Peak Evolution and Revive, two companies presented converted vehicles. Peak Evolution is aiming for a world height record with an electrified Aebi transporter. Revive converts vintage cars with combustion engines into electric vehicles.

Solar energy from the Saanenland

The focus of the afternoon was on the ambitious "SolSarine" project, launched by Impact Gstaad, which intends to set a milestone in the Swiss energy industry by means of decentralised large-scale photovoltaic systems in alpine farming. At four to six summering sites in the Saanenland, solar modules are to provide local solar power. The panels are to be installed in such a way that the cows can graze unhindered. The goal is to have the first construction phase completed by the end of 2025 and to be able to produce 10% of the final output of 74 megawatt hours.

A pioneer honours Gstaad

The adventurer and visionary Bertrand Piccard concluded the Impact Circle Event with a stirring speech and with a message that exemplified the Impact Circle Event: "When we realise we are going in the wrong direction, let's change it."

For those who wish to follow Bertrand Piccard and be kept informed of his activities, please do not hesitate to request a connection to his LinkedIn account.