Axpo and partners launch further green hydrogen plant

13.12.2024 - A ground-breaking ceremony was held today by Axpo and its partner shareholders in the H2Uri company to mark the start of construction on a new green hydrogen production plant in Bürglen, central Switzerland.  The facility will be Axpo's second such plant in the country. From 2026, green hydrogen from the 2 MW plant will fuel the first hydrogen passenger vessel on Lake Lucerne, as well as other applications.

Axpo and partners Schätzle AG, EWA-Energie Uri, and SGV Holding AG (Schifffahrtsgesellschaft Vierwaldstättersee) today broke ground on the site of a new hydrogen production plant to be constructed by H2Uri, a company in which all four partners are shareholders. The plant will be located adjacent to the EWA-Energie Uri hydropower plant in Bürglen, which will supply it with green electricity for the production of hydrogen. Annual production of up to 260 tonnes of green hydrogen is planned, saving the use of more than one million litres of diesel. 

Axpo Head of Power Plants and Green Gases Guy Bühler said: ‘Having already gained valuable experience with our green H2 plant in Domat/Ems, this project in Bürglen is a continuation of our strategy to play our part in the development of the hydrogen economy in Switzerland.’

Hydrogen vessel on Lake Lucerne

The new plant’s green hydrogen will be used, among other things, to power the passenger vessel ‘Saphir’ on Lake Lucerne. SGV Managing Director Stefan Schulthess said: ‘By converting the vessel to a hydrogen fuel cell system, we can significantly reduce our CO2 emissions. Plans for this are already well advanced.’ 

H2Uri shareholder Schätzle AG, which operates an Avia hydrogen refuelling station in central Switzerland, will also purchase green hydrogen produced by the plant. Axpo and its partners aim to have the new facility up and running as early as next year.

Shaping the hydrogen economy 

The inclusion of hydrogen in the energy mix will help strengthen Switzerland’s security of supply. Axpo is also driving forward its decarbonisation efforts with other investments in hydrogen projects, regionally, nationally and internationally. 

Axpo’s head of hydrogen Guy Bühler continued: ‘There are still many challenges in the hydrogen market, so I don’t expect progress to be continual. But nevertheless, I remain convinced that decarbonisation cannot be achieved through electrification alone. Hydrogen will be part of the solution.’ 

Axpo continues to participate in various hydrogen related events to share experience and ideas. The company also relies on appropriate national and international partnerships to further develop its own projects along the hydrogen value chain, cooperating with decision-makers and thought leaders in the field.

Project in Wildegg-Brugg on track 

The ambition of Axpo's hydrogen team can also be seen in the planned green hydrogen production plant at Wildegg-Brugg in the Swiss canton of Aargau. After an initial delay in obtaining a building permit, construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2025. 

Axpo’s Bühler added: ‘While this plant is being built, we’re planning to supply our partner Voegtlin-Meyer’s nearby H2 refuelling station with green hydrogen from Axpo’s production facilities in Domat/Ems and, when it comes onstream, Bürglen.’

The Wildegg-Brugg project aims to contribute to the sustainable supply of green hydrogen for transportation and industrial uses in the surrounding region. Its hydrogen will also fuel Voegtlin-Meyer buses operated on behalf of Switzerland’s PostAuto AG network.  

Discover more about our hydrogen projects in Switzerland and Europe 
 
Learn more about hydrogen in our white paper