Green Hydrogen A pillar of the energy transition
Green hydrogen, produced with energy from renewable sources, is widely considered to be a pillar of the energy transition. As one of the most important climate friendly energy sources, especially in the industry and transport sector, it will be key to achieving the decarbonisation strategies of the European Union and other countries.
Axpo invests in hydrogen production plants, their operation, optimisation and marketing. We also advise and support companies in their transition to green hydrogen. Our aim is to exploit the enormous potential of hydrogen and work towards building the hydrogen economy in Switzerland, as the leading producer of green hydrogen. As our customer, we would:
- Support you in project planning and the construction of your own hydrogen production
- Sourcing of electricity and certificates of origin for electrolysis
- Optimising the use of electrolysis
- Support for the purchase and marketing of hydrogen
Hydrogen Projects
Axpo is pursuing several projects in Switzerland and Europe:
Reichenau hydropower plant (2.5 MW)
After around a year’s construction, Axpo and local partner Rhiienergie opened at the end of April 2024 their first jointly owned hydrogen production plant at the Reichenau hydropower plant today. The 2.5-megawatt plant produces up to 350 tonnes of green hydrogen a year, making it the largest plant of its kind in Switzerland. The hydrogen produced can replace the use of up to 1.5 million litres of diesel annually. The plant’s green hydrogen is produced by water electrolysis, using green electricity from the adjacent hydroelectric power plant. The process is therefore entirely free of any CO2 emissions. The produced hydrogen is compressed in the plant, enabling its convenient delivery to refuelling stations and industrial customers in the future. The inclusion of hydrogen in the energy mix will play an increasingly important role in ensuring the future security of supply.
Axpo and SGV plan hydrogen passenger vessel on Lake Lucerne
Axpo is participating in the H2Uri company, which is building a hydrogen production plant in Bürglen, central Switzerland. The regionally produced hydrogen will be used to power a passenger vessel on nearby Lake Lucerne, operated by the Lake Lucerne Navigation Company SGV AG. In addition to Axpo and SGV, EWA-energieUri and AVIA Schätzle are also involved in the project. The hydrogen plant is to follow at Bürglen in the Swiss canton of Uri, with hydrogen production expected to commence in 2025. Among other benefits, the plant’s production will be used to power the first hydrogen passenger vessel on Lake Lucerne. The conversion of the SGV-Vessel "MS Saphir" to a hydrogen fuel cell system will be completed by autumn 2025.
Wildegg-Brugg hydropower plant (up to 15 MW)
Another climate-friendly hydrogen production facility will be built on the Wildischachen industrial location in Brugg (AG), and will be Switzerland's largest hydrogen plant. Axpo, Voegtlin-Meyer, IBB Energie AG (IBB) and the city of Brugg have signed a memorandum of understanding to this end. Axpo plans to deliver clean hydrogen from domestic hydropower directly to the nearby Voegtlin-Meyer filling stations via a pipeline. From there, the green hydrogen will be made available to private users and for the buses operated on behalf of PostAuto AG. The produced volume can be used to drive about 300 trucks, post or other buses for one year.
"Arve Hydrogène Mobilité" France (5 MW)
By founding the project company "Arve Hydrogène Mobilité", Axpo is investing in a project for the production and distribution of hydrogen in France. Specifically for the mobility sector in the French Arve Valley. The first hydrogen vehicles should be able to refuel at an H2 filling station as early as the first quarter of 2025. The project is being supported by various local partners, including hydrogen refuelling station developer Ataway and Jean Lain Mobilités, a leading car dealer and specialist in mobility solutions in the Alpine region. An electrolyser capacity of up to 5 MW will be gradually installed by 2030 to meet the growing demand for carbon-free mobility in the region.
Valle Peligna Italy (30 MW)
Axpo is joining a large-scale green hydrogen project in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Using existing industrial facilities in Corfinio, Axpo is partnering with Infinite Green Energy (IGE), which initiated the project, to deliver up to 12 tonnes of hydrogen a day to help decarbonise customers’ operations in so-called ‘hard-to-abate’ industrial and transportation sectors. The project includes a 30MW electrolyser powered by a 45MWp solar plant, making it one of the largest hydrogen plants in Italy. The Valle Peligna Hydrogen Project 30 MW electrolyser can produce up to 4,200 tonnes of hydrogen annually, representing a saving of around 18 million litres of diesel fuel. The facility will also provide green electricity to the local grid by the second half of 2025.
43-percent share in Swiss Green Gas International
Axpo holds a 43% interest in Swiss Green Gas International, in short SGGI. The joint venture company founded in 2020 plans and realises power-to-X facilities in Northern Europe (more on power-to-X on Wikipedia). The plants produce hydrogen and synthetic methane (green gas) from renewable electricity. This will promote the urgent, rapid exit from fossil energy sources. Other SGGI shareholders are Holdigaz SA, which primarily supplies the Cantons of Vaud, Valais and Freiburg with gas, and Nordur Group GmbH, a development and investment company.
What you need to know about hydrogen
Hydrogen can be recovered in different ways. One method is by means of steam reformation from natural gas. The natural gas is split and reacts with the ambient air. Another method requires water in place of natural gas as the source material. The water is split into oxygen and hydrogen by means of electrolysis. If the power used in the process is renewable, this hydrogen is designated as green. You will find more informations about green hydrogen in our energy knowledge.
Hydrogen can be converted back into electricity. However, it must be noted that every conversion step leads to efficiency losses.
Conversion into electricity
Converting hydrogen back into electricity can take place by means of a thermochemical process or a fuel cell. This fuel cell is an electro-chemical device used to directly convert the fuel cell's chemical energy into electricity.
Green hydrogen is produced through the electrolysis of water. Electricity generated from renewable energy sources like hydropower, wind and solar energy is used. As a result, green hydrogen is CO2-free.
Grey hydrogen is produced by means of steam reformation, usually from natural gas. Some 10 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of hydrogen are produced. The unused CO2 is released into the atmosphere. Steam reformation is the most widely used process in Europe.
Blue hydrogen is grey hydrogen, which captures CO2 during the production process and then stores it in the ground (carbon capture and storage CCS).
Turquoise hydrogen is hydrogen that is produced through the thermal decomposition of methane (methane pyrolysis). Solid carbon is produced instead of CO2. The methane pyrolysis process is still in the development stage.
Yellow hydrogen is hydrogen that is generated from the power mix in the existing grid. In Switzerland, this is mainly electricity from hydro and nuclear power.
Pink hydrogen is produced with electricity from nuclear power. Nuclear power is nearly CO2 free in operation, but its energy source is not renewable.
