Prof. Dr. Andreas Witzig

Work at ZHAW

Position

Director of ICP Institute of Computational Physics

Focus

Building simulation

Teaching

• "Wind Water Sectorcoupling and Synthetic Fuels" in Energy and Environmental Engineering
• Natural Sciences in Medical Informatics
• Physik 3 in Mobility Science
• Physics 3 in Systems Engineering

Experience

• Founder, CEO, president of the board
  Vela Solaris AG
  12 / 2006 - 08 / 2015
• Project leader Polysun
  SPF Solar Technology Institute, University of Rapperswil
  03 / 2005 - 12 / 2006
• Product manager optoelectronics
  Synopsys Inc.
  2004 - 02 / 2005
• Product manager optoelectronics
  ISE Integrated Systems Engineering
  2002 - 2004
• Scientific research staff
  Integrated Systems Laboratory
  2002 - 2004

Network

Membership of networks

• International Building Performance Simulation Association IBPSA
• Association building simulation Switzerland (president)
• Strategic Management IBH-Lab "Seamless Learning"
• IEA Task 53, new generation solar cooling and heating
• Steering committee Eurosun 2018
• Scientific committee EuroSun 2010
• Scientific committee CLEO-EQEC 2005
• Scientific committee NUSOD 2001-2005

ORCID digital identifier

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-7848-029X

Awards

ETH Medaille
ETH Zurich
01 / 2003

Social media

LinkedIn

Projects

• Smart Heat, Smarter Tools: Unlocking District Energy Design with AI Agents / Deputy project leader / ongoing
• Targets for energy performance of buildings in the early-stage planning tool / Project leader / ongoing
• NexTArc: Next Generation Open Innovations in Trustworthy Embedded AI Architectures for Smart Cities, Mobility and Logistics / Team member / ongoing
• Urban Positive Clean neigHborhood energy trAnsition: driving innovative solutions for Renovation, diGitalisation and energy Efficiency / Co-project leader / ongoing
• Interoperable solutions to streamline PED evolution and cross-sectoral integration / Co-project leader / ongoing
• Building Simulation Switzerland Business Administration / Project leader / ongoing
• Smart urban green spaces / Team member / completed
• Deep Dive ML on Simulated Enzyme-Electrolysis Performance / Team member / completed
• Emission Zero: A sustainable construction simulation game, 1990-2050 / Team member / completed
• Digital Services from the Building Cloud / Project leader / completed
• Digitally assisted intelligent retrofitting of office buildings / Project leader / completed
• User Assistance Systems for Smart Commercial Buildings / Team member / completed
• One-Click energy simulation for architects / Project leader / completed
• Software for the thermohydraulic design of solar systems / Co-project leader / completed

Selected publications

• Schranz, F. et al. (2024) 'User assistance system for smart commercial buildings : use cases and proof of concept', in Srećković, M. et al. (eds) Proceedings of the 2024 European Conference on Computing in Construction. European Council on Computing in Construction, pp. 674–681. doi: 10.35490/EC3.2024.190.
• Jakobi, M. et al. (2018) 'BIM use-case : model-based performance optimization', in EuroSun 2018 Conference Proceedings. International Solar Energy Society. doi: 10.18086/eurosun2018.11.07.
• Zhao, Y. et al. (2022) 'Performance and optimisation of a novel phase change thermal storage device', Journal of Energy Storage, 52(105076). doi: 10.1016/j.est.2022.105076.
• Witzig, A. and Kunath, L. (2016) 'Polysun simulation software in teaching and research at various academic institutions in Switzerland', in SIGES 2016 Conference, Winterthur, 8-9 September 2016.
• Pickhardt, C. et al. (2022) 'Modellieren, Visualisieren und die Simulation dynamischer Systeme als Seamless Learning : ein Beitrag zu diesem Prozess aus der Praxis am Beispiel eines Mathematikmoduls', in Dilger, B. et al. (eds) Seamless Learning. Wiesbaden: Springer, pp. 35–63. doi: 10.1007/978-3-658-34698-0_2.

Publications

Articles in scientific journal, peer-reviewed

Zhao, Y. et al. (2022) 'Performance and optimisation of a novel phase change thermal storage device', Journal of Energy Storage, 52(105076). doi: 10.1016/j.est.2022.105076.

Book chapters, peer-reviewed

• Witzig, A. (2022) 'Einzelprojekt "Wellen"', in Dilger, B. et al. (eds) Seamless Learning. Wiesbaden: Springer, pp. 93–121. doi: 10.1007/978-3-658-34698-0_4.
• Pickhardt, C. et al. (2022) 'Modellieren, Visualisieren und die Simulation dynamischer Systeme als Seamless Learning : ein Beitrag zu diesem Prozess aus der Praxis am Beispiel eines Mathematikmoduls', in Dilger, B. et al. (eds) Seamless Learning. Wiesbaden: Springer, pp. 35–63. doi: 10.1007/978-3-658-34698-0_2.

Written conference contributions, peer-reviewed

• Witzig, A., Meslec, M. and Haase, M. (eds) (2026) Proceedings of BauSIM2026 : building simulation conference, 11. Gebäudesimulations-Konferenz (BauSIM), Zürich, Schweiz, 9.-11. September 2026. Winterthur: ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-2860.2.
• Schranz, F. et al. (2024) 'User assistance system for smart commercial buildings : use cases and proof of concept', in Srećković, M. et al. (eds) Proceedings of the 2024 European Conference on Computing in Construction. European Council on Computing in Construction, pp. 674–681. doi: 10.35490/EC3.2024.190.
• Witzig, A. et al. (2023) 'Quantifying energy-saving measures in office buildings by simulation in 2D cross sections', in Johra, H. (ed.) NSB 2023 - Book of Technical Papers : 13th Nordic Symposium on Building Physics. Aalborg University, p. 317. doi: 10.54337/aau541623658.
• Wolf, A., Witzig, A. and Moreno, D. (2019) 'Cross-border education in the field of renewable energies using a dynamic simulation software', in Sayigh, A. (ed.) Renewable energy and sustainable buildings : selected papers from the World Renewable Energy Congress WREC 2018. Cham: Springer, pp. 771–778. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-18488-9_63.
• Jakobi, M. et al. (2018) 'BIM use-case : model-based performance optimization', in EuroSun 2018 Conference Proceedings. International Solar Energy Society. doi: 10.18086/eurosun2018.11.07.
• Witzig, A., Borth, S. and Danesi, S. (2018) 'Understanding the dynamics of solar energy systems by using simulation narratives', in Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Solar Energy for Buildings and Industry (EuroSun2018). Freiburg: International Solar Energy Society. doi: 10.18086/eurosun2018.07.01.
• Eismann, R., Föller, F. and Witzig, A. (2017) 'THD : Thermohydraulisches Dimensionierungsprogramm für Solaranlagen', in Tagungsband des 27. Symposium Thermische Solarenergie. Ostbayerisches Technologie-Transfer-Institut.
• Witzig, A. et al. (2016) 'Kollektorerträge und Passivsolargewinne : Systemsimulation mit Mehrzonen-Gebäudesimulation', in 26. Symposium Thermische Solarenergie : 20. bis 22. April 2016, Kloster Banz, Bad Staffelstein. Regensburg: Ostbayerisches Technologie-Transfer-Institut.
• Witzig, A. and Kunath, L. (eds) (2016) SIGES Internationale Konferenz zur Simulation gebäudetechnischer Energiesysteme : Sammelband der Konferenzbeiträge, 1. Internationale Konferenz zur Simulation gebäudetechnischer Energiesysteme, SIGES 2016, Winterthur, 8.-9. September 2016. Winterthur: ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.

Other publications

• Witzig, A. (2022) 'Gebäudesimulation : Trends und Ausblick', Faktor Themenheft 'Simulation', (57), pp. 22–23. Available at: https://faktor.ch/produkt/themenheft-57-simulation/.
• Eismann, R. and Witzig, A. (2017) Programm THD : Thermohydraulisches Dimensionierungsprogramm für Solaranlagen. Bundesamt für Energie.
• Wolf, A., Gähler, C. and Witzig, A. (2017) 'Solar-Controller optimieren mit Simulink-Polysun Cosimulation', in 27. Symposium Thermische Solarenergie, Bad Staffelstein, Deutschland, 10.-12. Mai 2017.
• Witzig, A. and Kunath, L. (2016) 'Polysun simulation software in teaching and research at various academic institutions in Switzerland', in SIGES 2016 Conference, Winterthur, 8-9 September 2016.
• Wolf, A. et al. (2016) 'Renewable energy training and certificate program in China', in 1. Internationale Konferenz zur Simulation gebäudetechnischer Energiesysteme (SIGES 2016), Winterthur, 8.-9. September 2016.
• Sotnikov, A. and Witzig, A. (2016) 'Building simulations in Polysun', in 1. Internationale Konferenz zur Simulation gebäudetechnischer Energiesysteme (SIGES 2016), Winterthur, 8.-9. September 2016.
• Witzig, A. et al. (2016) 'Teaching renewable energy systems by use of simulation software : experience at universities of applied sciences, in in-service training, and from international know-how transfer', in EuroSun 2016 Conference Proceedings International Solar Energy Society (ISES) European Solar Conference Proceedings International Conference on Solar Heating & Cooling in Buildings. Freiburg: International Solar Energy Society, pp. 1591–1600. doi: 10.18086/eurosun.2016.10.03.
• Witzig, A. et al. (2016) 'Integrale Planung mit 3D Dachplaner, Stückliste, Batteriespeicher, Power-to-Heat', in 31. Symposium Photovoltaische Solarenergie, Bad Staffelstein, Deutschland, 8.-10. März 2016.

Oral conference contributions and abstracts

Witzig, A. (2014) 'Energiekonzepte der Zukunft : Werkzeuge für den Planungsprozess', in Schweizerischer Ingenieur- und Architektenverein (SIA) - Jahrestagung der Berufsgruppe Technik, Muttenz, 23. September 2014.

Publications before appointment at the ZHAW

• E. Vrettos, A. Witzig, R. Kurmann, S. Koch, and G. Andersson, Maximizing local PV utilization using small-scale batteries and flexible thermal loads, European PV Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (PVSEC), Paris, France, September 2013.
• R. Bornatico, J. Hüssy, A. Witzig, L. Guzzella, Surrogate modeling of the fast optimization of energy systems, Elsevier journal Energy, vol. 57, June 2013
• R. Bornatico, M. Pfeiffer, A. Witzig, L. Guzzella, Optimal sizing of a solar thermal building installation using particle swarm optimization, Elsevier journal Energy, vol. 41, issue 1, May 2012
• A. Witzig, Kombination Solar und Wärmepumpen, Innovative Konzepte in der dezentralen Energieproduktion, Energiepraxis-Bulletin der Ostschweizer Energiefachstellen, Zürich, Oktober 2011
• A. Witzig, Advances in Optical Device Simulation Software, Photonics Spectra, November 2004
• A. Witzig, Modeling the Optical Processes in Semiconductor Lasers, PhD Thesis, ETH-Nr. 14694, ISBN 3-89649-803-1, Hartung-Gorre Verlag, Konstanz, 2002

Affiliations

Current Affiliations

• President
  Verein Gebäudesimulation Schweiz, Winterthur
  Organization and chairing of board meetings
  01 / 2023 - today
• Founder
  Vela Solaris AG, Winterthur
  Board member
  10 / 2015 - today

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