Faster recharging thanks to bioenergy: The start-up WattAnyWhere, based at the Energypolis Campus in Sion, is developing an innovative system for powering a recharging station for electric vehicles. The specificity of this solution is that it is independent of the electricity grid, thanks to the supply of renewable ethanol, coupled with a fuel cell for energy transformation. An initial test installation has produced convincing results in the laboratory, as part of an Innosuisse project with the EPFL and the HES-SO Valais/Wallis. With the help of EnovArk, the young company has started the deployment of a first generator and terminal in the field, in Sierre.

In recent years, the number of electric cars in Europe has increased massively. These vehicles are going to fill the motorways and need energy. According to several studies, more than 3.5 million charging points will be needed by 2030 in Europe. Founded in 2021, WattAnyWhere proposes to add value to renewable ethanol by using it to power future electric vehicle charging stations. This will avoid the deployment of heavy infrastructure to supply these stations. The start-up will use biomass residues, transformed into ethanol, as an energy carrier. The renewable ethanol, which is in abundance, will be transformed into energy using a fuel cell.