Hydrogen is to be produced at the Augst power plant

AEW Energie AG (AEW), Kraftwerk Augst AG (KWA), the energy company IWB and Fritz Meyer AG (FMAG) want to contribute to the federal government's energy and climate strategy by producing renewable hydrogen. The companies are therefore examining the construction of an electrolyzer to produce hydrogen using renewable electricity from the Augst power plant. This is to be distributed via FMAG's filling station network. These are the plans of the project partners.

The AEW press release states that the hydrogen will be used in particular by transport companies that are converting their truck fleets to hydrogen vehicles. The project thus contributes directly to the decarbonization of transport. In addition, local added value is generated in Switzerland and the import of fossil fuels from abroad is reduced. The waste heat from the production plant could be used as climate-friendly heating energy for neighboring apartments.

Feasibility and variant study carried out

The partners have conducted a feasibility and variant study. According to the information, the preferred variant envisages a production facility of 2.5 megawatts capacity in the power plant's nacelle. The plant will not be noticeable from the outside. Only the filling plant on the forecourt of the power plant would be visible, according to the developers. The waste will be removed via the power plant road by means of two to three truck trips per day. The parties are currently in preliminary talks with the authorities to clarify zoning conformity. Subsequently, the detailed planning will be tackled and the building application submitted, it is further communicated.

Hydrogen mobility as part of electromobility

Electric vehicles have a future because they are more climate-friendly than vehicles with internal combustion engines. The project partners are convinced that electric vehicles will replace classic combustion engines in the medium term. This is not the case for freight transport, where long charging times and the high weight of the batteries, which reduce the payload, still stand in the way. Hydrogen mobility - with green hydrogen from renewable energy sources such as Augst - is therefore of great importance, especially for heavy-duty vehicles with high utilization rates and for use in buses. A few kilograms of hydrogen would enable ranges of several hundred kilometers within minutes when refueled. The technology has been tested, but the infrastructure for the production and distribution of environmentally friendly hydrogen is still lacking, AEW writes in its press release.

Source: AEW Energie AG

More articles on the topic:

Those who drive with H2 save on mineral oil tax and HVF

Green hydrogen becomes competitive in 2030