Join Jan Heldmann and Alejandro Christlieb as they share their experience of the Energy Summer School 2025.

After months from applying, we set off for Ascona for the Energy Summer School 2025, organised by the Energy Science Center and the Institute of Science, Technology and Policy. The setting at Monte Verità, overlooking Lago Maggiore, immediately made the week feel special. The main theme — “Navigating the Energy Transition in an Insecure World” — felt especially timely within today’s geopolitical context. Coming from a technical background, this was a great opportunity to expand on the sociopolitical dimensions of the energy transition. 

In the first days, everyone presented their research posters, covering topics from technological solutions to their economic and social feasibility. A big shout-out to the winners of the best poster awards! Their work offered an inspiring glimpse into the research shaping the field.

Each day featured lectures by academics and industry speakers from around the world. Kaja Hollstein of Swissgrid offered a technical view on demand flexibility and energy balancing, while Professor Florian Egli highlighted the economic side of the transition. A key insight stuck with us: OECD countries are investing more in renewables, but non-OECD countries lag due to higher upfront costs and borrowing rates. With most population growth occurring in non-OECD countries, it was a harsh reminder that the energy transition remains a global challenge.

Midweek, we set out on an excursion. Jan joined a hike in the scenic Verzasca Valley, stopping at the impressive Contra Dam designed by the legendary engineer Giovanni Lombardi. During the hike, I (Jan) could talk with Professor Bri-Mathias Hodge about his lecture on power system stability, discussing the importance of reactive power in renewable-heavy systems. As an electrical engineer, I really enjoyed exchanging ideas with a world-renowned expert. 

Meanwhile, Alejandro visited Giubiasco’s massive waste-to-energy plant, which handles 180,000 tons of waste a year to produce heat and power. We saw the crane and furnace in action – an experience that felt straight out of the Toy Story 3 landfill scene. What first sounded like a less appealing visit, turned out to be surprisingly fun and enriching.

No academic event is complete without group work. Split into teams, we wrote policy briefs with strategic recommendations for a country’s energy future. Jan’s group analysed Ukraine’s energy crisis after Russia’s invasion, while Alejandro’s focused on South Africa’s aging, coal-heavy system.

The week ended with creative presentations: AI-generated songs, mock trials, and acted power outages. This mix of playful delivery and serious analysis perfectly captured the spirit of the week: working hard, learning deeply, and having fun together. 

From day one, the group vibe was extraordinary. As our new friend Charalambos said: “I never clicked with so many people in such a short time.”

We left Ascona recharged — with fresh energy, new perspectives, and friendships for life.