The ewz Smart Grid project is led by Zurich's municipal utility to modernise urban energy networks for the city's net-zero-by-2040 goal. The initiative transforms Zurich's electricity distribution into a digitally enabled smart grid integrating renewable energy, managing bidirectional power flows, and enabling demand-side flexibility through smart metering.
The project also develops smart district heating and cooling networks leveraging waste heat from data centres, industrial processes, and lake water. Advanced sensor networks, real-time monitoring platforms, and predictive analytics optimise energy distribution and grid resilience.
ewz has deployed innovative storage solutions and vehicle-to-grid technologies in pilot programmes with ETH Zurich. The project demonstrates how municipal utilities can lead smart city transitions at city scale, supporting Zurich's 2000-Watt Society objectives.