Energy Solutions
In an era marked by increasing population densities, climate change, and resource scarcity, the significance of sustainable energy solutions, particularly within urban environments, continues to grow.
The utilization of underground spaces offers a promising way for clean energy initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable living.
The Hagerbach Test Gallery can provide space at different scales to connect different energy storage options, control them and thus simulate underground energy networks for applications of different scales.
We are pleased to carry out your project
Where cutting-edge research meets real-world application
In the Hagerbach Test Tunnel, new visions of the cities of tomorrow are emerging in laboratories far below ground level.
It's no wonder that in December 2024, the Federal Council designated our fascinating tunnel as a research infrastructure of national importance.
Have we sparked your curiosity? Then: roll the film! ️
Energy Tunnels
One compelling example lies in the thermal activation of underground tunnels, demonstrating considerable potential in harnessing geothermal and aerothermal energy. This approach serves as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for various needs, including:
- space heating and cooling
- water heating
- and road de-icing
Drawing upon decades of expertise in researching and developing tunnel systems as well as beeing a member of "Geothermie Schweiz", the Hagerbach Test Gallery is the prime platform to help better comprehending the concept of "energy tunnels.
Hydrogen storage
Another example of energy solutions is hydrogen: Despite being the most abundant element in the universe, its natural scarcity, owing to its reactive properties, poses a challenge. However, advancements in renewable energy sources, such as solar, hydro, and wind power, enable the production of hydrogen through water electrolysis. Effective storage of hydrogen at varying scales is a must for the widespread adoption of hydrogen-based energy systems across diverse sectors and applications.
Large-scale storage solutions are essential to accommodate excess hydrogen generated from renewable sources. Subsurface geologic mediums, including artificial caverns like those offered by the Hagerbach Test Gallery, present a viable option for large-scale hydrogen storage.
Hagerbach's expertise in providing caverns of different sizes facilitates experimentation with various hydrogen storage methods, addressing challenges such as the need for substantial cushion gas volumes, hydrogen's reactivity with metals, microbial degradation, and its mobility, just to name a few.
Current Energy Solution Projects
Innosuisse Flagship Initiative:
SwissSTES - Swiss Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage Action Plan and Implementation
Project partner SCAUT (including Hagerbach Test Gallery)
Without a significant expansion of seasonal energy storage, the substitution of fossil fuels with renewable energies will not be feasible. Seasonal thermal energy storage (STES) can play an important role in this. Their importance for improving security of supply has so far been underestimated, although they have the potential to reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports, maximise the integration of renewable energies and waste heat, smooth demand peaks and close the winter electricity gap.
Innosuisse Flagship Initiative:
AEGIS-CH (Advanced Geothermal Systems to improve the resilience of the Swiss energy system through the development and integration of Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS).
Industry partner: Hagerbach Test Gallery and others
The interdisciplinary consortium AEGIS-CH, comprising academic and industry partners, progresses in two main development clusters:
- Energy System Analysis, which develops optimized energy mix scenarios and recommendations for Switzerland, encompassing all contemporary geothermal systems.
- Plasma Pulse Geo Drilling, which introduces innovative, cost-effective drilling systems for constructing deep, closed-loop advanced geothermal systems at affordable expenses.
Subspace Energy Hub at Hagerbach Test Gallery
The SUBSPACE ENERGY HUB at the Hagerbach Test Gallery serves as an ideal platform for the coordinated development, prototyping, and installation of new technologies aimed at promoting best practices in sustainable energy use and storage. It integrates both above and underground facilities to benefit society, exemplifying a model ecosystem for sustainable energy storage and delivery in future cities.
Collaborating with partners, Hagerbach aims to transform into a visionary, sustainable, and CO2-neutral underground infrastructure, facilitating the development, prototyping, and deployment of underground space usage, including alternative energy sources like solar, wind, and geothermal.
This transformation involves using environmentally friendly electric-driven equipment, coupled with low-carbon subspace design and materials. As part of this initiative, partners have initiated specific workstreams to establish new benchmarks in various technological areas, fostering industry networks and rapid knowledge development.
The SUBSPACE ENERGY HUB aims to lead practical demonstrations and discussions on sustainable solutions in collaboration with diverse stakeholders, connect key players, engage with future generations and decision-makers, and contribute to building a sustainable society through knowledge sharing and joint vision development.
More at the underground future lab:
For around 60 years, the renowned Swiss Amberg Group has been a leader in engineering and surveying services for railway, metro, underground and specialised civil engineering.
The family-owned company is an innovative knowledge, engineering and technology provider in the field of logistics and infrastructure for smart cities, hubs and networks. We provide outstanding solutions for our customers through innovatively combining above-ground and underground space utilisation.
Amberg Engineering
Engineering services for the construction of underground infrastructure
Planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of railway, road, utility and metro tunnels, as well as caverns
Amberg Technologies
Systems and solutions for railway and tunnel surveying
Acquisition, evaluation and refinement of measurement data in infrastructure construction
Amberg Infra 7D
Digital services in the infrastructure environment
Geo-monitoring, mobile mapping, digital construction, geomatics and inspection services
Amberg Loglay
Smart city and construction logistics solutions
Sophisticated logistics solutions for efficient and future-orientated construction projects
Amberg Infocon
High-quality design and BIM services
Design, BIM, consulting, PMC and IT solutions for architecture, engineering and construction
VersuchsStollen Hagerbach
The underground future lab
Extensive underground research infrastructure for testing and development, testing laboratory for building materials, training centre and event facilities
QAECY
Intelligent information
Analysing documents and data with artificial intelligence to create a unified view of reality
Your underground experts
- Rail tunnels, including high-speed rail
- Metro lines
- Tunnel and shaft infrastructure
- Caverns with large cross-sections
- Energy storage and utilities
Engineering at its best
- Numerous services for your entire project cycle, from feasibility, planning and construction to renewal of your infrastructure
- Trained specialists and experts in planning and design, geotechnics, and project management
Infrastructure experts
- Rail, metro and tunnels
- Underground spaces
- Mining and shafts
Systems and solutions
- Slab track, tamping, mapping, surveying and inspections
- Tunnel machine guidance
- Tunnel profile measurements and stakeout
- Undulation
- Layer thickness control
- Surface inspection
- Geological predicting during tunnel excavation
- Surveying, data analysis and maintenance
Digital infrastructure experts
- Data acquisition and processing
- Monitoring
- Measurement of geotechnical tasks
- Maintenance and operation
- Process optimisation and digital continuity
Solutions and services
- Geo-monitoring
- Mobile mapping
- Geomatics
- Inspection services
- Digital construction
Smart cities and construction logistics experts
- Manage stakeholders across the value chain
- Improve construction mobility in dense cities
- Unlock up to 50% of the true potential of assets
- Integrate circular economy principles into construction
- Use smart data throughout the supply chain
Solutions for construction sites
- End-to-end digital logistics processes
- Rapid prototyping and smart sensors (IoT)
- Logistics concept and manual (3D/4D)
- Integration of logistics data
- Logistics insights management (LIM)
- Construction logistics management (CLM)
- Management of external hubs and consolidation
Design and construction experts
- Design and BIM integration
- Coordination between different disciplines
- Information workflow setup
- Facility management and BIM integration
- Visualisation
Services
- BIM implementation and creation of models
- Clash detection, coordination and clash resolution
- Construction documentation and shop drawings
- 4D simulation and 5D estimation
- Underground utilities
- Laser scan to as-built models
- IT solutions – BIM integration with FM application
VersuchsStollen Hagerbach - The underground future lab
Recently named a research infrastructure of national importance, we have been providing the space and expertise to turn visions into innovations for over 50 years.
Your analysis and testing requirements
- Real scale test and prototype environment
- Analysis of construction material
- Training facility
- Unique location for your event
Our facilities and services
- Various test sites, test procedures and management
- Concrete and rock laboratory
- Training environment and syllabus
- Seminar rooms, event cavern and restaurant
AI agent as a service for the construction industry
- AI agent dedicated to the AEC industry
- Easy access to complex project information
- Helps in taking confident, informed decisions
- Opens data silos, unlocks all content and uncovers context
- Effortless interaction with your most valuable asset – your collective knowledge
Solution and services
- AI agent as a service
- Strategic consulting and training
- Development of tailored solutions