The annual Disentis Energy Research Talks are organised by the Alpine Energy Research Centre AlpEnForCe in collaboration with colleges, universities and research institutions. The Alpine Energy Research Centre AlpEnForCe, based in Disentis, was established to create, coordinate and disseminate knowledge for the benefit of the mountain cantons and other Alpine regions.
The Energy Research Talks Disentis provide a platform for the transfer of knowledge and qualified exchange between science, practice, politics and associations on current issues relating to energy in the Alpine region.
The 12th Disentis Energy Research Talks will take place from January 27 to 29, 2027. The event is dedicated to the challenges of the energy transition - particularly in relation to mountain regions - as well as the transdisciplinary scientific exchange on energy issues among the participants.
With the expansion of photovoltaic power in the Alps, new wind energy projects in the Alpine region, and the continued central role of hydropower and pumped-storage hydropower, the question arises as to the future role of the Alpine region in the European energy system. The Alpine region is increasingly viewed as an integrated energy region.
Accordingly, the theme of the 2027 Disentis Energy Research Talks is “The Alpine Region as Europe’s Energy Hub—New Perspectives on Energy Generation, Storage, and Security of Supply.” The public event will also address the question: What local initiatives support the Alpine region’s position as Europe’s energy hub?
The conference includes:
- Organised thematic sessions: Under the direction of a session chair, questions are discussed transdisciplinarily by invitation.
- Paper sessions: Scientific presentations (basic and applied research) followed by a discussion, in English (Wednesday, January 27 2027 and Friday, January 29 2027). The conference aims to provide a platform for exchange between the SWEET projects. Contributions from young researchers of the SWEET projects are particularly welcome.
- Paper sessions: Scientific presentations prepared in a practice-oriented manner with subsequent discussion, in German (Thursday, January 28 2027).
- Public event: Presentations and panel discussion on a local topic related to energy and involving research, politics, administration and the energy industry (Thursday afternoon, January 28 2027).
We invite you to submit abstracts on the following topics:
Decarbonisation and climate positivity
- Mitigation and Adaption
- Biodiversity and alpine assets
- Negative emissions, CO2 capture and CO2 storage potentials
- Energetic and material use of biomass
- Legal Basis
New renewables
- Potential and production costs
- Storage Technologies and Flexibility Options
- Alpine Solar Energy and Winter Electricity Generation
- Competition for use of land
- Wind Energy in the Alpine Region
- Renewable Heating and Cooling in the Alpine Region
- Social Narratives
- Legal framework conditions
Security of supply at the regional, national, and European levels
- Grid Integration and System Services
- Energy self-sufficiency and resilience
- Hydropower and pumped-storage
- Winter electricity gap
- Utilisation of overproduction
- Future of base load energy
- Legal/political framework and trends in the European context
Other Topics
- Market and Business Models
- Acceptance and risk aversion
- Cooperation in communities
- Energy efficiency
- Alpine farming and energy production
- Energy-intensive assets in the Alpine region
Other interesting topics
The Scientific Committee reserves the right to add other topics of interest that are submitted to it.
Papers can be submitted as abstracts by email to ivo.schillig@alpenforce.ch until September 13, 2026.
- Please use the template on our website.
- Abstracts must include the following information:
- Title and abstract of the contribution (structure: content, methodology, results)
- Name and title of all authors
- Additional information:
- Assignment to 1 - 3 subject areas
- 3 additional keywords
- If part of SWEET: SWEET project name
- Presentation to representatives from the energy sector on Thursday, January 28, 2027 in German possible Yes/NO
- Address, telephone number, email, website
- Format: MS Word document, font size 10 point, max. 2 A4 pages
- Graphics: *.jpg or *.png format, min. 300 dpi resolution, embed into the document
- Submissions will be reviewed by an international Scientific Committee.
- The abstracts of the accepted papers will be made available to the participants in a conference proceedings.
| Title | Last Name | First Name | Function | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assoc.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. | Bachhiesl | Udo | Deputy Head of Institute | Institute of Electricity Economics and Energy Innovation |
| Prof. Dr. | Betz | Regina | Head of Center for Energy and the Environment (CEE) | ZHAW School of Management and Law (SML) |
| Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. | Bockreis | Anke | Professur Abfallbehandlung und Ressourcenmanagement | University of Innsbruc |
| Prof. Dr.-Ing. | Gaderer | Matthias | Professorship Regenerative Energy Systems | Technical University of Munich |
| Dr. | Giudati | Gianfranco | Deputy Executive Director Head “Research Programmes” |
Energy Science Center, ETH Zürich |
| Dr. | Haxhimusa | Adhurim | Research associate, Research project leader |
Centre for Economic Policy Research (ZWF), University of Applied Sciences of the Grison |
| Prof. Dr. | Heselhaus | Sebastian | Professor of European Law, International Law, Public Law and Comparative Public Law | University of Luzern |
| Prof. Dr. | Keles | Dogan | Professor, Head of section (Department of Technology, Management and Economics) |
Technical University of Denmark |
| Prof. Dr. | Kienberger | Thomas | Chair of Energy Network Technology | Montanuniversität Leoben |
| Prof. Dr. | Kiesel | Rüdiger | Chair for Energy Trading and Finance | Universität Duisburg Essen |
| Prof. Dr. | Lehning | Michael | Joint Professorship Head Research Unit Snow and Permafrost Labratory of Cryosperic Sciences |
WSL / SLF Davos EPFL Wallis |
| Prof. Dr. | Madlener | Reinhard | Institute of Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior Institutsleiter FCN |
E.ON Energy Research Center, RWTH Aachen University |
| Prof. Dr. | Möst | Dominik | Chair of Business Administration, esp. Energy Economics | Technische Universität Dresden |
| Prof. Dr. | Paraschiv | Florentina | Professor of finance | Technica University of Denmark |
| Prof. Dr. | Previšić | Boris | Director | Urner Institut Kulturen der Alpen an der Universität Luzern |
| Prof. Dr. | Stadelmann-Steffen | Isabelle | Professorship of Comparative Politics | Institute of Political Science, University Bern |
| Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. | Werner | Claudia | Professorship of Energy and Life Science | University of Applied Services Flensburg |
Dates
- September 13, 2026: Deadline for submission of the abstract (2 pages)
- By October 18, 2026: Review of the abstract, preparation of the programme for the Disentis 2027 Energy Research Talks, followed by communication on the decision of the Scientific Committee
- January 27 – 29, 2027: Energy Research Talks Disentis 2027
Costs
- Participation fees: CHF 250.-
- Overnight stays are at the expense of the participants.
REGISTRATION, ORGANISATION, CONTACT
- The majority of the conference will be held in English on Wednesday and Friday. On Thursday the conference will be held in German. Individual presentations and discussions may be held in the other national languages.
- Please register by email to ivo.schillig@alpenforce.ch.
- Conference location: Disentis Monastery, Via Claustra 1, 7180 Disentis/Mustér.
- Further information and news can be found on our website www.alpenforce.com.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Dr. Ivo Schillig
Vice President and Delegate
Stiftung Alpines Energieforschungscenter AlpEnForCe
c/o Benediktinerkloster Disentis
Via Claustra 1
7180 Disentis/Mustér
Email: ivo.schillig@alpenforce.ch
Phone: +41 79 335 71 50