Program

Day Time Session / Topic Speaker / Lab (TBC indicated)
Monday 31 August
Sion
 15:30 – 16:30  Lecture 1  Energy on Demand: Why Storage Is Central to Future Energy Systems
Introductory lecture on the role of storage in future energy systems.
Prof. Emeritus Alfred Rufer, EPFL
 16:30 – 18:30  Icebreaker – Sion City Welcome Event
Guided wander through old town of Sion.
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 19:00 – 22:00  Welcome Dinner – Cheese Fondue
Traditional Swiss fondue to open the week.
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Tuesday 01 September
Sion
 08:30 – 09:30  Lecture 2  Supercapacitors Challenge Batteries
Overview of supercapacitor technology and comparison with batteries.
 TBC – speaker to be confirmed
 09:45 – 10:45  Lecture 3  Batteries Fundamentals, Research & E-Mobility
Fundamentals of battery systems and their role in electromobility.
 Prof. Priscilla Caliandro, BFH
 11:00 – 12:00  Lecture 4  Redox Flow Batteries for Large-Scale Storage
Principles and applications of redox flow batteries in grid storage.
 Prof. Antoni Forner-Cuenca, TU/e
 12:00 – 13:30  Lunch break  –
 13:30 – 15:45  Lecture 5 / Lab Visit 1  Storage as a Grid Service
Control strategies, market integration, and practical lab demonstration on grid services.
 Prof. Fabrizio Sossan, HES-SO Valais (combined session)
 16:00 – 17:00  Lab Visit 2  GEM Lab – Fuel cells & Electrolyzers
Hands-on demonstration of fuel cells and electrolyser technologies.
 GEM (Group of Energy Materials)
Wednesday 02 September
Grande Dixence & Sion
 08:00 – 15:00  Excursion: Grande Dixence Dam
Guided visit of the tallest gravity dam – pumped‑storage hydropower.
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 15:15 – 16:00  Lab Visit 3  Hydropower Lab – Pumped Hydro and Beyond
Research facilities for hydropower and pumped storage innovations.
 Prof. Cécile Münch-Alligné, HES-SO Valais
 16:15 – 17:15  Poster Session – All Participants Present Their Research
PhD and postdoctoral posters.
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 17:30 onwards  Free evening  –
Thursday 03 September
EPFL Lausanne
 07:39 – 09:09  Travel: Train Sion → EPFL Lausanne Campus  –
 09:30 – 10:30  Lecture 6  Thermal Energy Storage: Principles & Technologies
Sensible, latent and thermochemical storage concepts.
 TBC – speaker to be confirmed
 10:45 – 11:45  Lecture 7  Hydride Storage, Fuel Cells & Electrolyzers
Metal hydride‑based hydrogen storage and fuel cell systems.
 GRZ Technologies (speaker TBC)
 12:00 – 13:30  Lunch break  –
 13:30 – 14:30  Lecture 8 / Lab Visit 4  Power‑to‑X: Solar Fuels & Chemical Storage Pathways
Synthetic fuels, Power‑to‑X technologies, and integrated lab demonstration (LRESE).
 Prof. Sophia Haussener, EPFL (LRESE Lab)
 15:00 – 16:30  Lecture 9 / Lab Visit 5  Real‑Time Grid Monitoring & Control
Smart grid demonstrators and real‑time monitoring systems (DESL).
 Prof. Mario Paolone, EPFL (DESL Lab)
 16:45 – 22:00 CGN Boat Trip & Dinner by the Lake Léman
Networking dinner.
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Friday 04 September
Sion
 09:00 – 10:00  Lecture 10  PCM & Carnot Batteries: Power & Industry Applications
Phase change materials and Carnot battery cycles for industrial use.
 Prof. Adriano Sciacovelli, DTU
 10:15 – 11:15  Lecture 11  Future Perspectives on Energy Storage
Outlook on cross‑sectoral storage and system integration.
 Prof. Jan Van Herle, EPFL
 11:30 – 12:00  Final Assessment & Closing Remarks
Summary of the summer school.
 Organizing team
 12:00 – 13:30  Farewell Lunch
Networking lunch with speakers and participants.
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*Detailed schedule may evolve. Speakers marked TBC will be confirmed closer to the event.