Renewable energy producer Axpo and electric utility firm Rhiienergie have today (January 24) announced they have broken ground on a green hydrogen production facility at a Swiss hydropower plant.

 

Originally unveiling plans for the 350-tonnes-per-year facility in April 2021, the Domat/Ems, Switzerland plant was due to go onstream in the autumn of 2022, however, the companies have now said the site will be commissioned this autumn (2023).

 

H2 View understands Axpo and Rhiienergie kicked off the construction of the 2.5MW hydrogen production plant at the Reichenau hydropower plant this month (January).

 

Hydrogen produced from the site is planned to be delivered directly to hydrogen refuelling stations, as well as hopes for the energy carrier to be used in industrial applications in year to come.

 

“The hydrogen plant at the Reichenau power plant is one of several at river hydrogen plants that Axpo is planning in Switzerland over the next few years. Green hydrogen is an important pillar of the energy transition,” said Guy Bühler, Head Hydrogen at Axpo Group.

 

The companies have said they are jointly investing over CHF 8m ($8.6m) in the facility.

 

Although a comprehensive hydrogen refuelling network is yet to be established in Switzerland, Hyundai revealed in October last year (2022), its Swiss fleet of 47 XCIENT fuel cell heavy-duty trucks had accumulated more than five million km in two years.