Turning green waste into biogas: Axpo Kompogas Wauwil AG, ewl and Wauwiler Champignons AG are committed to green energy

31.03.2026 - Axpo Kompogas Wauwil AG is planning a new biogas processing plant at its fermentation facility. The biogas produced there will be purchased by the Lucerne-based energy supplier ewl energie wasser luzern and fed into the local natural gas grid from mid-2027. ewl will also supply Wauwiler Champignons AG with biogas.

In brief:

• Axpo Kompogas Wauwil AG is planning a new biogas processing plant for the production of biogas. The planning application for the plant was submitted in December 2025.
• ewl energie wasser luzern will purchase the biogas and feed it into the natural gas network. The planning application for the extension of the existing pipeline was submitted in March 2026.
• Wauwiler Champignons AG will be supplied with the biogas, taking a further step towards climate-friendly mushroom production.

Axpo Kompogas Wauwil AG – a subsidiary of Axpo – processes around 20,000 tonnes of biomass per year at its industrial fermentation plant in Wauwil in the canton of Lucerne, producing biogas and natural fertiliser. The biogas is currently converted into electricity and heat using a combined heat and power (CHP) plant. Axpo Kompogas Wauwil AG plans to replace the existing CHP plant with a new biogas processing plant, investing around CHF 3 million in the project. In the new plant, the raw biogas produced during fermentation will be converted into virtually CO₂-neutral biomethane. This will enable the production of around 11.4 GWh of energy annually. The planning application for the biogas processing plant was submitted to the municipality of Wauwil in December 2025.

Total production goes to ewl

Axpo Kompogas Wauwil AG will supply all the biogas produced to the Lucerne-based energy supplier ewl energie wasser luzern. To connect the new biogas processing plant to the existing gas network, ewl will construct a 3.2-kilometre-long gas pipeline, investing around 2.7 million Swiss francs in the project. The new pipeline will run from the existing metering and measurement station in Mauensee to the Axpo Kompogas Wauwil AG site. By mid-2027, the gas is expected to be available for use as a renewable energy source in the Sursee area. This will enable ewl to increase the proportion of renewable gas in its supply area. The planning application for the pipeline and the connection to the biogas plant was submitted in mid-March 2026. “Connecting Axpo Kompogas Wauwil AG is an important step towards a successful energy transition and the decarbonisation of the gas supply,” says Patrik Rust, CEO of ewl.

Green energy for Wauwiler Champignons AG

ewl will also supply Wauwiler Champignons AG with the biogas produced in Wauwil. The family-run business, based in Wauwil, produces button mushrooms and trades in various cultivated and wild mushrooms. Currently, the company obtains district heating from Axpo Kompogas Wauwil AG for its mushroom production, but still requires fossil fuels for heat and steam generation. With energy from biogas, Wauwiler Champignons AG is taking a further step towards largely CO₂-neutral production. “The use of biomethane is another milestone in our sustainability strategy,” emphasises Roland Vonarburg, owner and managing director of Wauwiler Champignons AG.

Regional and climate-friendly circular economy

With the biogas from the new processing plant, the three companies are making a significant contribution to the regional and climate-friendly circular economy. “Biomethane from regional green waste is an important and tangible contribution to reducing greenhouse gases,” says Daniel Gobbo, Head of Axpo’s Biomass Business Unit. And: “Short transport routes maximise efficiency and regional benefits.”