Open innovation at Axpo: working together for the future of energy

The challenges of the energy transition require innovative solutions - from climate neutrality and renewable energies to security of supply. Axpo is taking a collaborative approach with Open Innovation: partnerships with start-ups, universities and companies are creating new approaches that accelerate the transformation of the energy industry and promote sustainable solutions.

Why is Axpo focusing on open innovation?

The energy industry is facing enormous challenges: Achieving climate neutrality, expanding and integrating renewable energies and ensuring security of supply. Innovation is essential for a successful transformation. Axpo is focusing on open innovation, a strategy in which Axpo works together with external companies, start-ups, universities and other partners on solutions to implement innovations faster and more effectively.

By collaborating with external partners, Axpo is tapping into new expertise, cutting-edge technologies and innovative business models. The aim is to accelerate the development of sustainable solutions, promote access to new technologies and create synergies with partners. Open innovation allows Axpo to implement projects more efficiently and minimize risks - a decisive advantage in a rapidly changing energy market.

“Open innovation is key for Axpo because it allows us not only to expand our knowledge, but also to create real synergies with partners. Collaborating with start-ups, universities and companies enables us to create a sustainable future through innovative energy solutions.” - Gilles Amberg, Innovation Manager at Axpo.

Partnerships with Bluelion and VXA

Axpo is currently working with two leading accelerators to take open innovation to a new level: Bluelion, a startup accelerator from Zurich, and VERBUND X Accelerator (VXA), the venturing program of the Austrian energy company Verbund. Both partners help Axpo to find innovative start-ups and technologies in a targeted manner and to develop forward-looking solutions together with them.

Last year, Axpo was able to make significant progress through two call-for-innovation campaigns in the areas of hydrogen and Building Information Modelling (BIM) @Grid. In the area of hydrogen, a project partner was found for a proof of concept (PoC), and after a short definition and negotiation phase, work on the PoC began in the summer. The aim of this project is to activate the Swiss hydrogen market and promote networking between producers and consumers. An expansion to other markets will be considered soon. The PoC should be finalized before the end of this year.

In the second tender, the BIM@Grid Challenge, the start-up vGIS was the most convincing. Axpo hopes that the vGIS solution will simplify the documentation of infrastructure on construction sites and provide a better and more accurate access to information on where cables are installed in the ground. The PoC will run until March, and a conclusion will be drawn afterwards.

Axpo has already conducted several campaigns with VXA as well. One campaign, for example, focuses on the quality assurance of hydrogen. Together with partners such as voestalpine and the start-up HY-QM (a spin-off of EMCEL GmbH), a device for the dynamic and efficient measurement of hydrogen purity is currently being developed. This is an important step towards ensuring safety and efficiency in the storage and transport of hydrogen.

A new VXA campaign is currently underway with two search fields:

• In the area of biomethane, Axpo is looking for solutions for the transport of biomethane from the production plants to the consumers, for solutions for the utilization of CO₂, as well as for solutions for the management of residual fermentation emissions.
• In the area of 3D plant modelling, digital solutions are being researched that efficiently scan and model old production plants to optimize planning and operation.

Axpo is currently in the scouting phase here, in which promising start-ups are identified and selected for further discussions.

Together for a sustainable future

The partnerships with Bluelion and VXA show how Axpo is shaping the path to a sustainable energy future through open innovation. The successes achieved so far in the areas of BIM, hydrogen and biomethane are just the beginning. Axpo will continue to work actively with start-ups, universities and companies to develop new technologies, to drive forward the energy transition and to achieve climate neutrality.

Collaboration with innovative partners is a central component of Axpo's strategy. Together, we are shaping the future of energy - efficiently, sustainably and forward-looking.