CO2-neutral emergency preparedness: Axpo wins contract for reserve power plant

14.5.2025 - The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) today awarded Axpo the contract to build and operate a reserve power plant in the municipality of Muttenz, located in the northern canton of Basel-Landschaft. Using CO₂-neutral fuels, the plant will operate in emergencies only to stabilise the electricity supply in the event of power shortages. Axpo will thus make another substantial investment in Switzerland's security of supply.  

While large-scale and prolonged power outages can have dramatic consequences, the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP) warns that power shortages are the greatest energy risk facing Switzerland. With the planned domestic reserve power plant in Muttenz, Axpo intends to make a further substantial contribution to strengthening Switzerland’s domestic security of supply. Following the SFOE award, Axpo can now initiate the next planning steps with the aim of potentially making the plant available for use from winter 2029/30.

The reserve power plant’s installed capacity of 291 MW is enough to meet the electricity needs of around 600,000 households. In the event of a shortage, the plant will help stabilise the power grid and electricity supply. Axpo will thus make another substantial investment in Switzerland's security of supply.

CO2-neutral energy sources

Should it need to be activated, the plant will be powered by carbon-neutral fuels.  Initially, Swiss-certified biodiesel (HVO) will be used. CO₂-neutral, this fuel is produced entirely from renewable raw materials and non-recyclable or non-reusable waste. In a planned second phase, hydrogen-based eMethanol can be used, as soon as the fuel is available in sufficient quantities. For this purpose, the plant is being designed to be ‘methanol ready’. The renewable fuels will be stored on site to ensure at least two weeks of operation. Using this pioneering approach to its operation, the reserve power plant will enable the climate-friendly strengthening of Switzerland’s energy security.

The Muttenz plant is designed as a reserve power generator to be used in the event of electricity shortages. To ensure that it is rarely if ever activated, the expansion of winter electricity production in Switzerland must be greatly accelerated, however, especially in view of the eventual decommissioning of nuclear power plants, which will begin with the Beznau reactor in 2033. If this expansion is successful, the number of operating hours is expected to be low.

Ideal industrial location

The reserve power plant will be built on the site of the Auhafen AG tank farm in Muttenz. The project was developed in close cooperation with local partners and cantonal authorities. Its location in an industrial area complies with zoning regulations and is ideally suited for the delivery and storage of fuel, thanks to the infrastructure available in Auhafen. Primeo Energie will feed the electricity generated into the existing Münchenstein-Schweizerhalle line via a new substation.

Information event and public consultation

Axpo will finalise the building application documents by the end of 2025. These will then be submitted to Basel-Landschaft canton, followed by a public consultation. Axpo is already planning an information event for the public in Muttenz in June: 23 June 2025, 6.30 pm, Coop Tagungszentrum, Seminarstrasse 12-22, 4132 Muttenz. Registration not required.

Further information on the Muttenz reserve power plant is available here

Find out more about pooling – another service offered by the Axpo Group with a view to grid stability and security of supply