Groundbreaking Achievement in Wald, Canton of Zurich
Virtual " CSC " (vCSC)
Thanks to smart technology, five apartment buildings with complex infrastructure were connected to form a highly efficient energy community.
About the Reference Object
The full potential of smart energy solutions is evident in an existing development with complex infrastructure: Honegger Elektro Telecom and smart-me connected five apartment buildings—comprising a total of 40 apartments and one commercial business—to form a highly efficient energy community. The particular challenge: The buildings are connected to two separate grid connections. A conventional self-consumption network (CSC) would have required extensive and costly civil engineering work. Instead, the municipality implemented its first virtual self-consumption network (vCSC) —a solution that intelligently and cost-effectively combines solar energy, heat supply, and charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.
“In 2018, we launched the first CSC in our community, and over the past seven years we’ve gained a wealth of experience in this area. We’re proud to now be able to launch the first vCSC , located just 120 meters from the first CSC .”
Facts and Figures
Object Type
5 existing apartment buildings
Units
40 apartments and 1 commercial business
PV Capacity
45 kWp (on 2 of 5 roofs)
E-Mobility
52 parking spaces with basic infrastructure for charging stations
Challenge
Two separate power lines from the power plant as a challenge
The Solution
Virtual Group for Self-Consumption (vCSC)
Project Progress and Development
From a Complex Plan to a Smart Reality
This project is the result of a strategic, multi-year development effort and vividly demonstrates how a complex initial situation was transformed into an innovative and economically sound solution.
The Starting Point: A Divided Infrastructure
The initial challenge was the divided infrastructure of the five apartment buildings. One building had its own utility connection, while the other four were connected to a second, separate connection along with the central heat pump and the underground parking garage. The obvious solution was to physically connect all buildings via a new utility connection for a comprehensive CSC and to monitor them in real time withsmart-me meters was examined in 2021, but was rejected due to a lack of economic viability and therefore put on hold.
The Strategic Intermediate Step: Laying the Foundation for E-Mobility
Despite the delay in the “ CSC ” project, the property owners took a forward-looking approach in 2023 and invested in the property’s future. In the underground parking garage, basic infrastructure for e-mobility was installed at 52 parking spaces, and the first smart-me Pico wallbox was installed. This step not only immediately increased the property’s value but also laid the crucial foundation for a future, comprehensive energy solution. This demonstrates a modular approach that allows the infrastructure to be expanded step by step as needed.
The Turning Point: The " vCSC " as a Cost-Neutral Innovation
In 2025, the “ CSC ” project took shape. Technological advances and new regulatory possibilities opened up the option of a virtual merger (vCSC), which digitally connects the two separate grid connections into a single energy community. The major advantage: The vCSC solution incurred no additional costs for the property owner and was priced identically to the original variant with two separate ZEVs—yet offered significantly greater flexibility and efficiency. This economically and technologically forward-thinking decision enabled a pioneering, future-proof solution that increases the property’s value without straining the budget.
Technical Implementation
The construction of the vCSCis a prime example of precise coordination, seamless technical integration, and a sustainable energy strategy. The smart-me platform serves as the digital backbone that intelligently connects all components.
Synergy in Implementation: Photovoltaic System and AC Connection
Two of the five roofs were equipped with photovoltaic systems totaling 45 kWp, installed by Bachmann Bedachungen AG. At the same time, AC connections were proactively prepared for the remaining three buildings to enable a future expansion of PV capacity in a simple and cost-effective manner. The conversion of the electrical systems into two separate ZEVs, which were later virtually connected, was carried out while the buildings remained in operation. Thanks to precise planning, power outages for tenants were limited to one or two consecutive days—power supply was guaranteed continuously during the evening and at night.
Smart Billing: E-Mobility and vCSC —All in One Place
The strength of this solution lies in its centralized management via the smart-me platform. The e-mobility infrastructure, which had already been installed in 2023, could be seamlessly integrated. The two physically separate ZEVs were digitally merged into a virtual “ CSC ”—with clear benefits for all parties involved. The user-friendly smart-me billing tool automatically tracks and bills solar power, grid power, and charging power at the 52 parking spaces. This significantly reduces administrative effort and ensures a fair, transparent, and easily understandable cost allocation for tenants.
Key Benefits of the Implemented smart-me Solution
Cost-Effective Networking
Overcoming Physical and Financial Obstacles in Existing Buildings Without Expensive Civil Engineering Work
Future-Proof & Modular
The solar power system and charging infrastructure can be expanded gradually and as needed
Flexible Implementation
vCSC and implemented e-mobility intelligently and cost-effectively despite a complex starting point
Integrated E-Mobility
Seamless billing of charging current for 52 parking spaces directly through smart-me Billing
Data-Driven Optimization
A transparent data foundation for future efficiency gains
Tenant-Friendly Implementation
Renovation during normal occupancy with scheduled downtime of 1 to 2 days per apartment
Looking to the Future: Knowledge Instead of Guesses
The “ vCSC ” project follows a consistently data-driven strategy for energy optimization. In its first year of operation, 2025, no active measures will be implemented intentionally. Instead, the focus will be on observation and data collection, without adjusting the heat pump or charging times based on solar production. This creates a reliable baseline that accurately reflects the property’s actual energy consumption patterns. Starting in 2026, targeted, demonstrably effective optimizations can be implemented based on this baseline. This fact-based approach makes the project a model for smart energy management with sustainable and measurable efficiency gains.
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